NEW YORK - President Paul Kagame, yesterday in New York, chaired the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) Advocacy Group meeting, convened by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to examine the Advocacy Action Plan to be implemented in the coming year.

The Advocacy group brings together individuals from various fields who have led by example the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals.

The UN Deputy Secretary General, Ashor Rose Migiro, pointed out that the group’s efforts are aimed at ensuring that all people live "a dignified life in a just and equitable world.”

The meeting, attended by over 20 advocates including the head of the UN Foundation Ted Turner, Jeffrey Sachs and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Muhammad Yunus, explored the challenges and the successes of the MDGs.

President Kagame emphasized the need for all agencies to prioritize coordination with local actors to ensure sustainability of MDGs achievements.

He added that MDGs are not solely in the interest of developing nations.

"Focusing on continued growth of a developing country is actually in self enlightened interest…it’s not just a charity proposal, it is supporting the poor who have huge potential that is already visible in terms of continued growth,” the President said.

Many of the advocates observed that economic empowerment of youth is crucial to sustainable development. "We must give young people, across the world, a chance to use their talent, change their environment, change their lives and change the world,” Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Muhammad Yunus said.

Pointing to the unique nature of the MDG as an accountability mechanism to deliver well defined goals, the advocates renewed their commitment to fulfill their roles.

The meeting ended with a task for all advocates to ensure that 2015 does not mark an end date to all efforts, but rather a benchmark for continued collaboration for the well being of all people.

Ends