Campaigns update

'Sanitation is more important than independence'
- Mahatma Gandhi

One of the aims of WaterAid's current campaign, 'Water Matters', is for the UK Government to lead the way and ensure an international development target is set for sanitation,writes Sally Warren. Specifically we are asking for the adoption of a target 'to halve the percentage of people who lack adequate sanitation by 2015 and provide adequate sanitation for all by 2025.'

International development targets provide a focussed framework showing governments' commitment to tackling world poverty. WaterAid passionately believes that sanitation should form the cornerstone of a poverty reduction strategy.

The recognition of sanitation within these targets is essential to demonstrate governments' determination to help the 2.4 billion people currently living without access to adequate sanitation escape a life of disease and poverty.

Water Matters is petitioning the UK Government to promote the sanitation target at September's World Summit on Sustainable Development. In December 2001 WaterAid attended the preparatory meeting for this summit in Bonn.

The delegates, representing a wide range of organisations from around the world, agreed to press for the agreement of a sanitation target at the World Summit.

It was very disappointing that the separate Ministerial Declaration from 50 ministers at the conference made no mention of a sanitation target, even though it is a well known fact that major health improvements come from the integration of sanitation and hygiene promotion with water supply projects.

Ravi Narayanan, WaterAid's Director who attended the Bonn conference as part of an official UK Government delegation says, 'There is strong evidence that access to a safe, affordable water supply and effective sanitation is a key to poverty reduction. The international community must prioritise water and sanitation if the scourge of poverty that blights our globe is to be tackled.'

Water Matters petitions have been flooding in but we still need more signatures. We will be presenting the petition to the Prime Minister in July and so only have a few more months to reach our target of 1 million signatures.