This article defines the main objectives, principles and activities of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the framework of the Millennium Declaration, which sets out the basic objectives of the Millennium Development Goals: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, universal primary education, gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, maternal health, the fight against diseases of the century, environmental sustainability and global partnership for development. As a regional economic leader, Kazakhstan considers participation in international efforts to help the global development of an essential element of its foreign policy.
In his speech at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in September, 2013 The SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to continue to fight poverty, disease and deprivation by expanding philanthropy and innovation in the field of science and technology. However, the UN chief noted that, despite the progress made, many challenges lie ahead, that is only possible if the global partnership on the way to further progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals [1].
Indeed, enormous progress has been made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Continue to reduce poverty at the global level; the number of children attending primary school, more than ever; dramatically reduce child mortality; greatly expanded access to safe drinking water; targeted investments in malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis have saved millions of lives. MDGs are making a real difference in people's lives, and in the presence of strong leadership and accountability progress could be even larger in most countries by the target date, namely by 2015 [2].
However, in the report of the MDG for 2013 emphasized that many advances in the development achieved in part due to continued economic growth in some developing countries and targeted efforts in critical areas of the MDGs, such as health care. The increase in multilateral funding, the report says, has helped expand key programs, in particular, the treatment of people living with HIV / AIDS [3]. In this connection, the transition to more sustainable development is crucial for the achievement of the MDGs, as well as to ensure further development and preservation of the natural environment of the ecosystem of the planet should be protected.
At the national level of the implementation of the MDGs in conjunction with the governments of Member States the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is working actively. In Kazakhstan, in particular, a core value, which is guided by the UNDP in the implementation of the ideas and principles, is the concept of human development. This concept implies an all-encompassing unity of political, social, economic and environmental factors and their influence on the formation of quality of human life, his social abilities to transform the world and contribute to its realization. The needs to develop human resources and create conditions for the expansion of human capabilities are a priority for the UN Member States. To identify global trends in the field of sustainable development in the country, the UN Country Team and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan publishes an annual report on human development and the Millennium Development Goals, which are a kind of signal for the Kazakhstani society in terms of identifying potential threats to the country's sustainable development. These documents are drawn up taking into account the statistics of the country and produced by a group of Kazakhstani experts specializing in the subject of the report, which is formed by an independent UN position.
As mentioned above, the MDGs — a set of interrelated tasks aimed at solving the problems of poverty and hunger, illiteracy, gender inequality, child and maternal mortality, HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis, environmental degradation and global partnership for development.
Given the fact that Kazakhstan has already achieved some of the original set of MDG objectives such as poverty reduction, access to primary education and the promotion of women's rights, the Government of the country has committed itself on the agenda «MDG Plus», that is, set additional goals, adapted Kazakhstan and based on an analysis of national priorities, national statistics, relevant government programs, as well as the experience of other countries.
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Target 1. Halve the proportion of people with incomes below the subsistence minimum for the period from 1990 to 2015.
As indicated in the Report for 2004, Kazakhstan performs a task 1 MDG 1 — to reduce by half the proportion of people living below the subsistence level [4; 7]. However, poverty is still a fairly serious problem for the country, especially in rural areas. Therefore, in the 2007 report it proposed a new task «MDG 1+» that is, to halve the number of people living in rural areas with incomes below the subsistence minimum. Despite some progress on poverty reduction, a significant portion of the population has low income and at risk for this indicator to be in the category of the poor population [5; 10]. In fact, 80% of the population have incomes which do not exceed double of subsistence minimum. Income from employment of a part of the population are so low that they cannot differentiate a decent income sufficient to maintain a decent standard of living, which significantly reduces the attractiveness of productive employment [5; 15]. There remains regional differentiation of poverty with greater picture against rural poverty in all regions. Until now, rural poverty remains at a high level and exceeds the city almost doubled. State social policy for the protection of vulnerable groups is designed to be an effective strategy mechanism for poverty reduction and should aim at further strengthening the protection of the most vulnerable social groups, particularly in rural areas, — the self-employed, large families and single-parent families, the elderly, the disabled and migrants. To achieve this goal is necessary to provide conditions for the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas, to create a favorable legal framework for the employment of migrants and their access to entrepreneurial activity, the most vulnerable groups must be more fully covered by the social security system services, especially women, migrants, refugees, young and older people, people with disabilities, it is also necessary to develop a system of social services with the involvement of NGOs as providers of social services. Approaches to address these measures are set out in the Strategy «Kazakhstan – 2050» in the «New principles of social policy» [6; 9].
Target 2. Halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger for the period between 1990–2015.
In Kazakhstan, the «Target 2» calls for the reduction on an international scale by half the number of people suffering from hunger, in the framework of MDG 1 «Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger» is reached. The problem of hunger is currently not relevant for Kazakhstan. In connection with this, «Target 2» was adapted in 2007 to the national situation in terms of how to reduce by half the proportion of people who are not receiving a balanced and adequate nutrition [5; 16]. The improvement of nutrition requires a large proportion of the population, especially at-risk groups, which include children and women of reproductive age. In particular, some of the children under five years of age have a low overall weight and growth parameters that characterize the status of their lack of power. There remains a high prevalence of deficiency of some micronutrients, called «hide hunger» among risk groups [5; 17]. Reduction and elimination of micronutrient deficiencies will significantly improve the health and reduce child and maternal mortality, which is a contribution to the achievement of MDGs 4 and 5. To do this, you need to develop to take on the government level and put into practice integrated programs for sound nutrition of children under 5 years age and prevention of malnutrition and nutritional status disorders.
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education.
Target 3. Ensure that, by 2015, children all children can complete a full course of primary schooling, girls and boys. According to the report on the MDGs in Kazakhstan for the years 2002 and 2005, «Goal 2» in its original formulation achieved in the country. On the basis of the priorities of the national policy, statistics, implementation of state programs in the field of education, as well as taking into account the experience of other countries, it was concluded that the relevance of assessing the state of secondary education in general, with an emphasis on quality of education and enrollment of children with special needs and students from socially vulnerable groups. The Report — 2007 takes into account this conclusion, and to further monitor the achievement of MDG 2 in its extended meaning defined «task 3+», consisting in the provision of universal secondary education [5; 25]. As the review shows, the current challenge of ensuring universal secondary education, along with major achievements, there are many difficulties and unresolved issues with respect to education policy, quality of education, statistical support, institutionalization, capacity, human resources and financing of education. For the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other responsible parties to overcome the existing barriers it is advisable to implement a number of strategic actions, including updating the content of education, the development of a single standard of national education statistics and skills.
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women.
Target 4. Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels of education by 2015.
This goal was achieved in Kazakhstan in relation to the task of eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education. However, it should be recognized that the differences between women and men is still significant in Kazakhstan. Therefore, the new «Target 4+», adopted in 2007, includes such priorities as the adoption and implementation of measures to increase the representation of women in government, providing legislative and executive measures to prevent and eliminate violence against women, a sustainable gender mainstreaming in national planning and budgeting process, including, and to reduce the wage gap between men and women. To achieve additional tasks in the area of public administration one of the key recommendations is the establishment of effective mechanisms for progressive realization adopted the Law «On State Guarantees of Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Men and Women» in 2009 [7]. Political parties should promote equal representation and equal participation of women in the governing bodies of the parties should contribute for the equal representation and equal participation of women in political processes. Although the work on improvement of the legislation on protection of the rights of women to live free from violence, has not yet fully implemented in practice the mechanisms of its implementation. In this regard, it is necessary to develop an effective system of application protection orders and state standards of assistance to victims of violence and perpetrators of violence, using the existing similarities in the subject of international experience. This work must be accompanied by the release of the corresponding budgetary resources for the provision of public services.
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality rates.
Target 5: Reduce by two-thirds of the mortality rate among children under 5 years over the period between 1990–2015.
The solution of the existing problems regulated by the relevant government decrees and orders of the Ministry of Healthcare of RK. Unfortunately, their implementation on the ground is not sufficiently clear; it may be due to a lack of understanding of orders due to insufficient knowledge of health workers the basics of new perinatal technologies and organizational support. Data obtained as a result of the analysis and evaluation of the status of the MDG 4 in Kazakhstan, allowed the team of UN experts offers the following recommendations:
- to implement the practice of obstetrics regionalization of perinatal care;
- to implement the practice of the department of pathology of newborns, primary hospitals and institutions engaged in primary health care, WHO program «Integrated Management of Childhood Illness»;
- conduct a study on the causes of accidents involving a wide range of ministries (health, education, road transport services, );
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan the meeting of staff to reduce maternal and infant mortality carried out taking into account the results of monitoring and evaluation of losses by BABIES matrix due to the adoption of administrative decisions [5; 38].
Goal 5: Improve maternal health.
Target 6. Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) over the period between 1990– 2015. By 2015, achieve universal access to public services and reproductive health commodities.
The relevance of the question of achieving MDG 5 in Kazakhstan due to the fact that maternal health indicators in the country are still low, and the maternal mortality rate is much higher than in the countries of the WHO European Region. To achieve MDG 5, Kazakhstan needs to achieve reduction of IMR from 55 per 100 000 live births in 1990 to 14 in 2015. Within five years, the MMR should be reduced approximately by half compared with the current figure. For 19 years since 1990, MMR declined by less than 2 times. It is clear that as the MMR each successive reduction shall be given his all with great difficulty. Some progress in recent years in reducing maternal mortality in Kazakhstan, however, is encouraging. Achieving MDG 5 will depend on how quickly the legislation in Kazakhstan will change how successfully pass the structural reforms in health care, and how to be effective management programs to reduce maternal mortality and their financing. To achieve MDG 5 need to strengthen multi-sectoral approach to the problem of strengthening maternal health, for which the joint coordinated efforts of education, health care, media and non-governmental sector is important to achieve a significant improvement in public awareness, especially young people, in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and HIV /AIDS. MDG 5 can be achieved only if increased investments in sexual and reproductive health; while the available resources should be distributed in the direction of maximum benefit to the maximum number of people [8].
Goal 6: Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
Target 7. Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.
At 1 January 2010, 13 784 cases of HIV infection were registered in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Every year, since 1987, it marked increase in new HIV cases, with the exception of 2009. HIV prevalence among population aged 15–49 years is 0.15%. There is still the main mode of transmission — intravenous drug use (67.5%), the sexual transmission accounts for 24.4%. HIV is concentrated among injecting drug users (prevalence 2.9%) [9]. Analysis of the situation shows that although the HIV epidemic in Kazakhstan has managed to contain the initial stage (HIV is concentrated mainly among injecting drug users), there is a fear of deterioration, because the behavior, practiced primarily by persons who use drugs intravenously, is not safe, and the same time the level of awareness of young people about HIV transmission and how to prevent infection, quite low, and access to treatment is not widespread. Despite considerable progress in confronting the HIV epidemic, in order to achieve this goal it is necessary to strengthen the work in the following areas:
- strengthen the political commitment to HIV and AIDS;
- to provide access to antiretroviral treatment to all in need;
- to raise awareness of young people;
- ensure that existing programs aimed primarily at preventing infection with the population of the most vulnerable groups;
- further improvement of the epidemiological surveillance system;
- the strengthening of cooperation with non-governmental
Target 8. Have halted by 2015 the spread of tuberculosis and begin to reverse the incidence reduction. In Kazakhstan, tuberculosis is considered a classic, socially mediated disease, and continues to be a serious public health problem. According to the official WHO data, Kazakhstan takes the leading position in the recorded incidence of tuberculosis (TB), and is one of the 18 priority countries for TB in the WHO European Region. In addition, the prevalence of tuberculosis with multidrug-resistant pathogen (MDR-TB) is one of the highest in the world [10]. Despite the difficult epidemiological situation, Kazakhstan has an opportunity to make progress on this task, provided that the Government of Kazakhstan will take measures to achieve this objective. For this it is necessary to do followings:
- make further efforts to introduce and improve the quality of all components of the basic DOTS strategy (strategy for TB control);
- ensure universal application of the country of the International Standards for TB care in the definition of TB cases and treatment outcomes;
- ensure that infection control measures for TB at all levels of health care services;
- conduct propaganda significance of the problem of tuberculosis, including the issue of the prevalence of drug-resistant forms of TB, including governmental, non-governmental and donor organizations;
- strengthen intraand interagency integration of TB control programs with general health care network, the program for the prevention of HIV / AIDS Control, the prison service [8; 29].
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability.
Target 9. Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources.
The lack of an ecosystem approach in developing and implementing economic and social programs, the principles of integrated and balanced environmental management in Kazakhstan — these problems were cited as the major in the field of environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, during the reporting period, Kazakhstan has achieved improved performance in a number of positions indicated by these indicators. Specific measures for the advancement of the regulatory legal framework, streamlining the management structure and management processes in the field of biodiversity conservation, and active participation in international projects allow predicting the achievement of designated targets while maintaining the positive dynamics of indicators. In the future, it is necessary to continue work to improve the natural-resource laws in accordance with the international conventions and regional instruments, the formation of stable mechanisms of cooperation with the Central Asian states in the development of regional environmental policies for addressing crossborder environmental problems. It is important to study the international experience of environmental insurance and the creation of extra-budgetary environmental funds with a view to its implementation in Kazakhstan [8; 27].
Target 10: Reduce by 2015 half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
On water supply Kazakhstan is one of the most water-scarce countries of Eurasia. There is a problem in providing access to safe water and waste management systems, which is especially important for the health of the population. To date, at least 10 per cent of households have no running water in their own homes, about a quarter of the population has no access to adequate sanitation conditions. To improve the situation it is necessary to consolidate the regulatory Committee on Water Resources of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan approval of the technical requirements at the stage of issuing the design assignment SNP water systems. It requires solving the issue of the National Programme on Integrated Water Resources Management in Kazakhstan. The quality of water systems can be improved through the use of modern energyand resource-saving technologies, equipment, materials, and water metering systems. It is necessary to revise downwards the specific water consumption rate of urban and rural population. To improve the mechanism of subsidizing drinking water [8; 36].
Target 11. By 2020 to have achieved a significant improvement in the living conditions of the rural population living in the most unfavorable social, housing and ecological environment. The report on the Millennium Development Goals in Kazakhstan in 2010 a solution to this problem seems elusive when it comes to rural areas. Despite a number of programs implemented by the government in order to strengthen the development of rural areas and agriculture, standard of living of the rural population is significantly lower than the level of life of citizens. There are many reasons, in particular, the residual principle of financing the rural social sector (which was particularly noticeable during the crisis), inadequate infrastructure, especially transport and telecommunications systems. Financing of small and remote villages economically unprofitable, leading to their degradation and causes a migration of the population, further exacerbating the problems of employment and housing. The problem requires a comprehensive understanding and adoption of comprehensive solutions involving all levels of government. Particular attention should be given to outreach and educational activities, the educational aspect. Positive dynamics of indicators based on official statistics, reflecting the effectiveness of efforts to address the problem before 2009. However, as can be seen from the figures, the share of security of the rural population improved sanitation facilities is less than 50% [8; 40]. Some prospects may be linked to the implementation of programs under the «road map», the well-proven in the crisis both in cities and in rural areas.
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development. Partnership at the national and international level is an important factor in achieving the development goals and objectives. Kazakhstan continues to develop cooperation and partnership at the international level (including trading, donor and financial institutions) and in the country — with the private sector and civil society. Kazakhstan is an active participant in various international organizations, as well as a supporter of various regional and international treaties and agreements. International (external) partnerships concluded by Kazakhstan fully support and promote its development. At this stage, the most active ties in trade, investment, finance, information technology and communications, as well as regional and international cooperation. Partnerships differ in scope and dynamics within the country. At that time, as a partnership with the private sector is gaining momentum, with the civil society dialogue is developing slowly. In the future cooperation and collaboration of various organizations within the country should focus on solving the most important problems: inequality and marginalization, local development, employment among young people and women. In the area of partnership with civil society, the main priority should be the strengthening of the existing (and create new) mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. One of the perspective directions is an involvement of NGOs in the provision of social services.
Today achievement of the Millennium Development Goals is still an important issue both for Kazakhstan and for the international community as a whole, especially in light of the proximity to the target date — 2015 year. The United Nations is working with governments, civil society and other partners in order to build a dowry MDG momentum and continue working in the framework of an ambitious sustainable development in the post-2015 agenda.
In September, 2010 plenary meeting of the General Assembly High-Level MDG United Nations Member States of the Organization initiated a series of measures to promote development for the period post-2015 agenda. As a result of the decisions taken was carried out a process of public consultations on the agenda for the period after 2015, Kazakhstan became one of the 50 countries that participated in the process of national consultations. According to a survey, he made contributions to more than 1.5 million participants, representing governments, civil society, private sector, academia and research institutions around the world. At the national level it was held about 90 consultations, as well as 11 thematic consultations on issues such as inequality, food security and access to drinking water, which in the opinion, scientists will be crucial in the period after 2015. Internet portal called "The world we want 2015» (The Future We Want in 2015) brought together people in a global discussion, while a survey of public opinion on major issues, entitled «My World» gripped residents more than 190 countries [2].
Consultations have shown that people want to see based on national policies the global agenda for development, providing equal rights and opportunities to build a future, they want to further progress in the field of education, health, water and sanitation.
These findings were presented to the High-Level Group, operating under the auspices of the UN Secretary General to study the action program in the field of development for the period after 2015, formed in July 2012 as part of the former representatives of civil society and the private sector, as well as world leaders. This group in May 2013 published its report, which proposes a practically realizable concept of sustainable development. The panel's recommendations were submitted to the Secretary General and the United Nations Member States of the Organization.
September 25th, 2013 the Chairman of the 68th session of the General Assembly held a special event, relating to the Millennium Development Goals. At this meeting, the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon presented the UN member states a report entitled «Decent Life for All: accelerating the achievement of development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to take further measures to implement the United Nations agenda in the area of development after 2015» [11].
The report of the UN Secretary-General called for a new, wider set of objectives for the period after 2015, to reflect new global realities and challenges. Goals should be measurable and adaptable as global and local conditions, as well as applicable to all countries. He also pointed to the importance of the rule of law and properly functioning institutions. Sustainable development, providing economic reforms and opportunities to snatch people out of poverty, social justice and environmental protection, should be the basis of follow-up, supported by a more rigorous accountability and a sense of shared responsibility. [12] At the UN Summit on the adoption of the Development Agenda for the period after 2015, addressing the gathering, the President of Kazakhstan emphasized that our country has achieved significant progress in the implementation of the eight Millennium Development Goals. In particular, Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan has strengthened the foundations of statehood and created the conditions for the development of civil society. In addition, the country's GDP has grown 19 times, per capita income has reached 13 thousand dollars. The Head of State also noted the positive health indicators: life expectancy of Kazakhstan exceeds 71 years poverty was reduced 11-fold — from 34 to 3 percent rate of infant and maternal mortality decreased by 65 percent, significant progress has been made in the fight against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. President of the Kazakhstan emphasized that our country reduces greenhouse gas emissions and takes care of the conservation of biological diversity of the planet [13].
The outcome document of the June, 2012 «Rio + 20» United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled «The Future We Want», countries recognized the success of the MDGs in a call to action to eradicate poverty and promote human development. It was agreed to build the success of the MDGs through the development of a set of sustainable development goals that were global in nature and are universally applicable [14].
Analyzing the above, it should be emphasized that many of the provisions of the global strategy for sustainable development adopted in the last century, require a system update and new approaches to meet the realities and contradictions of the XXI century. Member States need to discuss and adopt a strategy for sustainable development, and to consider possible options to enhance the exchange of technology.
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