As of April 5, 2013, only 1,000 days remain until the end of 2015 — the target date for achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The eight MDGs provide an internationally agreed blueprint that countries and leading development institutions signed onto in 2000. gender equality and women’s empowerment is a cornerstone to accelerating and sustaining MDG progress and furthering all the Goals. With 1,000 Days to achieve the MDGs, efforts have to accelerate action and scale up what works.