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Ban praises rise in school enrolment rates in Latin America

Ban praises rise in school enrolment rates in Latin America

Latin America has posted impressive improvements in school enrolment rates, particularly among girls, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told a gathering of countries from the region.

Speaking last night at the Ibero-American Dinner in New York, he said it was fitting that the Ibero-American Conference’s next summit – to be held in El Salvador – will focus on youth and development, given the gains in school enrolment.

“That is a real contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” he said, referring to the set of eight targets for slashing social and economic ills, all by 2015.

He also thanked Conference members for their commitment to boosting so-called South-South cooperation between developing nations and their increased participation in UN peacekeeping operations, particularly the world body’s mission in Haiti (known as MINUSTAH).

The Ibero-American Conference comprises the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America and Europe, and also Equatorial Guinea in Africa.