United Nations expert at Stormont to debate global poverty goals

The United Nations’ top expert on health will tell politicians at Stormont on Monday that Northern Ireland can be part of the solution to global poverty.

Anand Grover, UN Special Rapporteur on Health will be at Parliament Buildings as a guest of Amnesty International to talk to Ministers, MLAs and campaigners in the run-up to a crucial UN summit in New York. The meeting will review progress on the Millennium Development Goals which aim to slash poverty, hunger, disease, maternal and child deaths by 2015.

The health expert will address the links between global poverty and poor health and explain how Northern Ireland can play a part in achieving the Millennium Development Goals through a combination of political support and action by local international development charities.

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International Northern Ireland Campaigner said:

'To have someone of the stature of the UN Special Rapporteur here today is a reminder that even a place as small as Northern Ireland has role to play in solving big issues like global poverty.

'Today is an opportunity to discuss the issues such as maternal health across the globe, but also for local politicians to debate Northern Ireland’s plans for international development, particularly in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.'