High Level Summit 14-16 September 2005

To help Member States prepare for the decisions they will be called upon to make at the Summit , several key reports have been updated recently, including:

Human Development Report: UNDP focused on international cooperation and the effects of aid, trade and security in an unequal world.

Health and the Millennium Development Goals:  WHO issued its first assessment of progress towards the health goals, targets and indicators.

Report on the World Social Situation:  The UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) focuses on inequality in its report, a pervasive problem that threatens to hobble broad progress on the MDGs.  Also, World Population Monitoring 2005: Population Challenges and Development Goals: DESA examines how the population program of action aims to help fulfill the MDGs.

Progress of the World’s Women 2005: Women, Work and Poverty: UNIFEM’s flagship publication makes the case for more focus on women’s informal employment as a key way to reduce poverty and strengthening women’s economic security.

Trade and Development Report 2005: UNCTAD’s annual report examines the implications of China and India ’s rapid growth for the world economy – especially its effects in developing countries.  Also:

• Economic Development in Africa Report 2005:  UNCTAD examines the impact of foreign direct investment on Africa . Available September 13. 

• World Investment Report 2005: the growth of trans-nationally owned research and development centers in developing countries.  Available September 29.

A Future Within Reach: ESCAP, UNDP and ADB examined ways of reshaping institutions in Asia and the Pacific, where vast disparities challenge countries’ abilities to meet the MDGs.

Financing Urban Shelter: Global Report on Human Settlements 2005 :  UN-HABITAT presents the first global assessment of housing finance systems in an annual report that is considered to be the most authoritative and up-to-date assessment on conditions and trends in the world's cities.

Business UNusual: Facilitating UN Reform Through Partnerships:  The Global Compact report examining recent partnerships with business is available September 13.  Also: Towards Responsible Lobbying: ways companies can align their lobbying practices with development objectives.

Doing Business:  The International Finance Corporation reports on business and development.  Available September 14.

Global Financial Stability Report: the IMF’s annual report on available September 15. Also mid-September, it issues its Annual Report, and its World Economic Outlook.

Press Releases

Secretary-General's Special Envoys

Treaties responding to global challenges information and booklet

Release of GA President Draft Outcome Document