Former South African President Nelson Mandela made a plea today for world leaders to unite totackle the problem of global child poverty.
He was speaking via a live video link at the launch ofa conference aimed at meeting international targets on improving the lot of the world's poorest children by 2015.
Mr Mandela threw his full support behind the campaign, calling on governments to move children to the top of the world agenda.
"We should be remembered for having changed the world so that every child can lead a life of dignity, security and self-fulfillness," Mr Mandela told the conference.
He also called for more progress on relieving the debt burden of Third World countries.
World Bank President Mr James Wolfensohn, called on rich countries to open up their markets to developing country exports, and honour their commitment to devote 0.7 per cent of their annual gross domestic product to overseas aid.
Current levels of foreign aid stand at around 0.24 per cent of GDP.
"At a time of unprecedented prosperity, rich countries should be increasing, not cutting, their aid budgets, reaching out, not turning their backs on Africa and its children," he said.
The 2015 targets include plans to cut the number of people in extreme poverty by half, to enrol all children in primary schools, and to reduce infant and child mortality rates.