Blair unveils world poverty watchdog
Blair unveils world poverty watchdog
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Monday, 26, Jun 2006 09:00
Tony Blair has reiterated his government's pledge to fight poverty by announcing the establishment of an international committee tasked with monitoring the progress of developed nations in fighting poverty.
Speaking in London this evening, the prime minister warned against global poverty slipping down the international agenda as he acknowledged "disappointing progress" in efforts to tackle global poverty.
"Just because these issues are the top of the agenda now, it doesn't mean they couldn't easily slip down again. We must not let that happen. I will do everything I can to ensure they don't," he said.
Mr Blair insisted that "we have made good progress but it is going to take an enormous amount of work in years to come to alleviate poverty in Africa and tackle climate change."
Development analysts have acknowledged the significant progress in debt relief made in the 12 months which have nearly passed since last year's Gleneagles summit, but have been more critical of the lack of progress in trade agreements and the provision of aid to poverty-struck areas.
Mr Blair's hopes that the institutionalisation of a committee will prove popular with the voters were tacitly acknowledged during his speech when he said that "these issues were not high up the political agenda in the UK, let alone internationally... now they are".
Chaired by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, the Africa Progress Panel will also feature campaigning rock star Bob Geldof and Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, along with Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, who will fund the project.