In September 2000 leaders from United Nation´s member states came together in New York to adopt the United Nations´ Millenium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership for creating humane conditions and reducing extreme poverty for all by the year 2015. It was outlined through a series of time-bound targets.
The Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) are addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions: hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, income poverty, and exclusion while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. They are likewise basic human rights – the right of each person on earth to survival, health, education, shelter, and security.
More info: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/background.html