[MDGs] UNICEF to halve extreme poverty by 2015

New York (VNA) - The newly-elected chief of UNICEF, Ann Veneman, has promised that the United Nations agency will advance the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aimed at improving basic services for the poor and halving extreme poverty by 2015.

In a press statement released after she was elected on May 2 as UNICEF chief, Ms Veneman said "The objective of the MDGs reflect the hope of all governments around the world, and because they have a special emphasis on child poverty, the UNICEF will play its role to achieve these goals."

However, she admitted that continued success for UNICEF depends on its cooperation with governments, non-governmental organisations and other UN agencies.

"To strengthen UNICEF cooperation with its partners around the world means to accelerate its goal of reducing poverty, malnutrition, and disease, in addition to protecting the children from violence and abuse," Ann said.