Millennium Development Goals

What will be life in Latvia like in 2015?
On 15 March 2005 the Government of Latvia endorsed First Report on the UN Millennium Development Goals in Latvia.

Latvia has developed at an extremely fast pace. After the renewal of independence in 1991, in the first years of the transition period, Latvia's government was faced with the task of reorienting all of the country's main systems from a planned to a market economy.

As of 2004, Latvia' s new regional affiliation and Latvia's Millennium Development Goals require it to seek approximation to the European Union level of development by striving for equity and social cohesion. This means that, in the period up to 2015, Latvia's domestic policies must address the elimination of inequalities between social groups.

Regional policy must stimulate greater welfare for the rural population. A policy aimed at elimination of poverty and social exclusion must increase opportunities for those for whom Latvia's development superhighway has not been the road to greater personal welfare. Health policy must increase life expectancy.

Latvia will achieve its Millennium Development Goals by 2015 if government and civil society carry out the planned policies, devoting special attention to the risk groups of each of the Goals.

Summary
Latvia's progress towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

The eight interrelated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are based on the UN Millennium Declaration (2000). Achievement of these Goals by 2015 will improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable. Latvia has drafted 21 targets and 45 indicators to adjust the global Goals to conditions in Latvia. This Report examines Latvia's progress towards achievement of these Goals.

Latvia is progressing towards achievement of all of the Goals. However, the rate of progress differs from Goal to Goal. In certain areas, for example, reducing maternal or child mortality, or combating aids, effective measures and work with risk groups will make it possible to achieve the Goal sooner. In other areas, for example, ensuring equal pay for women and men, or universal secondary general or secondary vocational education, progress is slower. Life expectancy of males is increasing very slowly and is still extremely short when compared to the European average.

Widening of the gap between the richest and the poorest has not been halted. The growing number of poor people can slow progress towards achievement of the other Goals. It is therefore important to identify the groups facing the highest poverty risk and give them opportunities to eliminate the causes and alleviate the effects of poverty.

Brief outline of progress towards each Goal

Entire text of the Report What will be life in Latvia like in 2015?