To galvanize support for the Millennium Development Goals, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in June 2010 established an Advocacy Group of eminent personalities who have shown outstanding leadership in promoting the implementation of the Goals -- in such fields as education, food security, health, environment, and the empowerment of women. The Group supports the Secretary-General in building political will and mobilizing global action for the benefit of the poor and most vulnerable, aiming for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by the 2015 target date.
Members
![HHS Sheikha Moza bint Nasser](images/advocates/sheika-circle.jpg)
HH Sheikha Moza
Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development
![Dho Young-shim portrait](images/advocates/youngshim-circle.jpg)
Dho Young-shim
Chairperson of the UN World Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) Foundation (Republic of Korea)
![Philippe Douste-Blazy portrait](images/advocates/douste-circle.jpg)
Philippe Douste-Blazy
United Nations Special Advisor on innovative financing for development (France)
![Wangari Maathai portrait](images/advocates/matthai-circle.jpg)
Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) and the Green Belt Movement
Nobel Peace Prize Winner, environmental and political activist (Kenya)
![Graça Machel portrait](images/advocates/machel-circle.jpg)
Graça Machel
Former First Lady of South Africa and Mozambique, advocate for women’s and children’s rights
Former Members
![Michelle Bachelet portrait](images/advocates/bachalet-circle.jpg)
Michelle Bachelet
Former President of Chile, Former Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
![Bill Gates portrait](images/advocates/gates-circle.jpg)
Bill Gates
Philanthropist, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Chairman of Microsoft Corp (United States)
*The former Members have worked closely with the MDG Advocacy Group in the run up to the MDG Summit of September 2010. Although they can no longer formally participate in the group due to other official duties and commitments, they remain close supporters of the the MDG Advocacy Group.