UNICEF welcomes International Year of Sanitation 2008
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© UNICEF/HQ07-1825E/Berkwitz |
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Taking part in a hand-washing ceremony during launch of Year of Sanitation were HRH Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman, Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. |
New York - January 2, 2008 .– UNICEF today officially welcomed the first day of the International Year of Sanitation 2008. The international year aims to highlight the need for urgent action on behalf of the more than 40 per cent of the world’s population who continue to live without improved sanitation.
Children and women comprise 90 per cent of those affected
Lack of proper sanitation contributes to the deaths of thousands of women and children every day from largely preventable causes, including diarrhoeal diseases. Though more than 1.2 billion people worldwide have gained access to improved sanitation between 1990 and 2004, an estimated 2.6 billion people -- including 980 million children – have yet to be reached. This is one of the single biggest development challenges facing the world today.
The International Year of Sanitation 2008 was established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2006 to accelerate progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal target of reducing by half the proportion of people living without access to improved sanitation by 2015. In addition, progress on sanitation will contribute to the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals.
Complete press release.
