The House of Representatives of Indonesia is taking the leadership and initiative on the support and achievement of the Millenium Development Goals in the country.

In words of the Minister of Culture and Education, Professor Mohammad Nuh, “the word that needs to be used is eradication, not alleviation, not reduction. What we want to achieve is the eradication of poverty, we have to see poverty as our common enemy”.  Mr Mohammad Nuh, added that education should be considered as one of the main pillars in the complex and difficult task of eradicating poverty.

"Poverty eradication starts with quality education for all," said the Director-General. "Societies that make education their top priority are more resilient, prosperous, just and peaceful." On the other hand, she said that “development cannot be disconnected from human dignity. The Government should work with focus on the vulnerable and the marginalized”.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Marzuki Alie, who also took part in the panel discussion, thanked UNESCO and the United Nations for their support on the achievement of the MDGs. Mr. Alie said that “the MDGs are not just a commitment of the international community, but something that has to be done for the welfare and prosperity of Indonesian people.”

This Special Session was part of a two-day UNESCO-workshop—Enhancing Capacities of the Poor through the Promotion of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights— that took place in Jakarta from November 24-25, 2011. The UNESCO workshop, organized in the framework of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, is part of UNESCO’s efforts to advance social inclusion through the development of innovative approaches to fight marginalization, poverty and exclusion.