Good governance is a central concern in the Millennium Declaration, in which the signatories committed themselves to strengthen respect for the rule of law, to redouble efforts to counter the world drug problem, to fight transnational crime in all its dimensions, including trafficking as well as smuggling of human beings and money laundering and to end illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons.

Even if the global MDG framework does not contain an explicit goal, targets or indicators on governance, it clear in the spirit of the Millennium Declaration, that good governance is a precondition for achieving the MDGs and increasing human development.

The representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mr. Vincent McClean put it as follows in a recent statement:

However, organised criminal activities - including drugs and arms trafficking, and the trafficking of women and children - and corruption - including the misappropriation of funds intended for investment and social services - present serious challenges to good governance, the rule of law and economic and social development. The burdens these challenges impose bear hardest on the poorest sections of societies. It follows that addressing them effectively is critical to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The governance task force will make sure that issues linked to governance and the efforts Macedonia is undertaking in this regard will be taken into account in the MDG Report.