At the Millennium Summit in 2000, 189 Member States agreed to help the world's poorest countries significantly by the year 2015. A framework for progress consisting of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was derived from the Millennium Declaration adopted by these world leaders.

• MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
• MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
• MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
• MDG 5: Improve maternal health
• MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
• MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development

UNFPA's work in the fields of reproductive health and rights, women's empowerment and population issues is at the core of the achievement of the MDGs especially by promoting gender equality (MDG 3), by improving maternal health (MDG 5) and by preventing from HIV (MDG 6).

Poverty cannot and will not be eradicated without also achieving the ICPD goals. Universal access to education and reproductive health care are crucial steps that can help individuals break out of cycles of poverty. Reproductive rights are central to women's empowerment and empowered women are the key to healthier and more productive families, communities and countries.