International Year of Sanitation

International Year of Sanitation

The International Year of Sanitation was a designation made by the United Nations General Assembly for the year 2008. The aim of the year was to raise awareness and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. The initiative was part of a broader global effort to address water and sanitation issues, emphasizing the importance of sanitation in improving health, dignity, and well-being in developing countries.

Background

Sanitation refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and feces. Inadequate sanitation is a major cause of disease world-wide and improving sanitation is known to have a significant beneficial impact on health both in households and across communities. The International Year of Sanitation was announced in response to the global crisis in sanitation, where over 2.6 billion people lived without access to basic sanitation.

Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of the International Year of Sanitation was to put the global sanitation crisis at the forefront of the international agenda and to inspire action towards achieving universal access to sanitation. Specific objectives included:

• Increasing awareness of the importance of sanitation among political leaders, policy makers, and the general public.
• Mobilizing national and international resources to improve sanitation infrastructure.
• Promoting policies that enhance sanitation among communities that are most in need.

Activities and Achievements

Throughout the year, various activities were organized globally, including conferences, workshops, educational campaigns, and community-based initiatives. These activities aimed to share knowledge and best practices, encourage innovation in sanitation solutions, and foster partnerships among governments, NGOs, and the private sector.

One of the key achievements of the International Year of Sanitation was the increased visibility of sanitation issues on the global stage, leading to greater political and financial commitment towards improving sanitation services. Additionally, the initiative helped to stimulate a dialogue about the economic, environmental, and social benefits of improved sanitation.

Legacy

The legacy of the International Year of Sanitation includes a heightened global awareness of the importance of sanitation and the continued need for investments in sanitation infrastructure. It also paved the way for subsequent initiatives and goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

See Also

• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Millennium Development Goals
• United Nations General Assembly

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