Adopting a recommendation made by the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB), the United Nations General Assembly, on 20 December 2006, declared 2008 the International Year of Sanitation (IYS).

 

The Year was one of the recommendations of the Hashimoto Action Plan (http://www.unsgab.org/Compendium_of_Actions_en.pdf) launched by the UNSGAB on Water and Sanitation in March 2006 at the 4th World Water Forum. It aims to stimulate frank dialogue on every level while creating a context for political leadership and government commitments to allocate greater resources to sanitation for the poor, stressing the positive impact on health and gender equity.

 

The First Planning Meeting on the IYS 2008 was held on 7 May 2007 at UNICEF House in New York. Representatives of non-governmental organizations, donor agencies, academia, development banks and 29 Governments met at this occasion for a strategic dialogue on how to make the most of the IYS.

 

At the end of deliberations, the working groups meetings were visited by the Secretary General of the UN, who personally affirmed the importance of the IYS to all those present. In addition, the following “Objectives for the IYS” were endorsed by the participants.

 

Objectives of the IYS

 

1. Increase awareness and commitment from actors at all levels, both inside and outside the sector, on the importance of reaching the sanitation MDG, including health, gender equity, economy and environment issues, via compelling and frank communication, robust monitoring data, and sound evidence.

 

2. Mobilize Governments (from national to local) existing Alliances, Financial Institutions, major groups, the private sector and UN Agencies via rapid collaborative agreements on how and who will undertake needed steps now.

 

3. Secure real commitments to review, develop and implement roadmaps and national plans to scale up sanitation programmes and strengthen sanitation policies via the assignment of clear responsibilities for getting this done at the national and international levels.

 

4. Encourage demand driven, sustainable & traditional solutions, and informed choices by recognizing the importance of working from the bottom up with practitioners and communities.

 

5. Secure increased financing to jump start and sustain progress via commitments from national budgets and development partner allocations.

 

6. Develop and strengthen institutional and human capacity via recognition at all levels that progress in sanitation toward the MDG’s involves interlinked programmes in hygiene, household facilities (such as toilets and washing facilities) and wastewater treatment. Community mobilization, the recognition of women’s key role and stake, along with an appropriate mix of “software” and “hardware” interventions are essential.

 

7. Enhance the sustainability and therefore the effectiveness of available sanitation solutions, to enhance health impacts, social and cultural acceptance, technological and institutional appropriateness, and the protection of the environment and natural resources.

 

8. Promote and capture learning to enhance the evidence base and knowledge on sanitation which will greatly contribute to the advocacy and increase investments in the sector.

IYS Initiatives

 

 Where would you hide... if you didn’t have a toilet?

 

Imagine walking across a prominent public space in a capital city or through the halls of a governmental building and seeing 35 such figures asking: “Where would you hide?” if you didn’t have a toilet. The magnitude of the problem becomes clear and it is apparent that “Sanitation is Dignity”

UNSGAB UN Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation

 

UNDESA United Nations Department of Social Affairs

 

UNICEF Water, Environment and Sanitation