Why the next 15 years will be big for widows in Uganda—and justice advocates around the world
It’s early September and hot in Washington. I’m standing in the line filing its way into the State Department, digging through my wallet for my license and trying to sweat as little as possible in my black suit. My boss, Holly Burkhalter (IJM’s Vice President of Government Relations) and I are here to meet with Samantha Power, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, to deliver a giant stack of signatures from people around the country who want the United Nations to make sure the issue of violence is integrated into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Read MoreWhat we know about development — and what we need to learn
The global fight against poverty gained an unprecedented level of attention in 2000 when the United Nations—and all its member countries—established the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs were our global roadmap; our plan for creating a future in which men, women, and children worldwide could thrive.
Over the course of the past 15 years, we’ve learned a lot about development:
· We’ve recognized the importance of empowering women, who “hold up half the sky.”
· We’ve witnessed “the girl effect” and have come to understand the necessity of investing in girls’ education.
Read MoreWhy global poverty still exists: the new TED talk to watch
You can give all manner of goods and services to the poor, but if you don’t restrain the violent bullies from taking it away, we are going to be disappointed by the long-term impact of our efforts.Gary Haugen gives his first TED talk:
The Hidden Reason For Poverty The World Has Overlooked