A/RES/67/291
Sanitation for All
Deeply concerned by the slow and insufficient progress in providing access to
basic sanitation services, as shown in the 2012 update report of the United Nations
Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, in which it was noted that
2.5 billion people continue to lack basic sanitation, and conscious of the impact of
the lack of sanitation on people’s health, poverty reduction, economic and social
development and the environment, in particular water resources,
Appreciating the ongoing work of the organizations of the United Nations
system and the work of other intergovernmental organizations on sanitation,
Noting that sanitation-related activities, events and initiatives are observed
each year in many countries,
Noting also the efforts of countries that are participating in all relevant
voluntary initiatives related to water and sanitation, including the Sanitation and
Water for All partnership, to share their experience with interested Member States,
Recognizing that events organized on 19 November in many Member States in
the context of World Toilet Day have contributed to a better awareness and
concerted actions on different aspects of the critical issue of sanitation for all, and
acknowledging in this regard the critical role of civil society organizations,
Decides to designate 19 November as World Toilet Day in the context of
1.
Sanitation for All;
2.
Urges all Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system
and all other relevant stakeholders to encourage behavioural change, together with
policies for increasing access to sanitation among the poor, complemented by a call
to end open defecation as a practice that is extremely harmful to public health;
Encourages all Member States, as well as the organizations of the United
3.
Nations system and international organizations and other stakeholders, to approach
the sanitation issue in a much broader context and to encompass all its aspects,
including hygiene promotion, the provision of basic sanitation services, sewerage
and wastewater treatment and reuse in the context of integrated water management;
Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system
4.
and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including
non-governmental organizations and individuals, to observe World Toilet Day in the
context of Sanitation for All in an appropriate manner, including through education
and activities to raise public awareness on the importance of access to sanitation for
all;
Urges all Member States, as well as the organizations of the United
5.
Nations system, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders, to
accelerate progress in order to achieve Millennium Development Goal 7 and other
Millennium Development Goals related to sanitation, including by redoubling
efforts to close the sanitation gap through scaled-up ground-level action, noting in
this regard the global effort to realize “Sustainable sanitation: the five-year drive to
2015”;
Stresses that the costs of all activities that may arise from the
6.
implementation of the present resolution should be met from voluntary
contributions, subject to the availability and provision of voluntary contributions for
this specific purpose;
Requests UN-Water, in consultation with relevant entities of the United
7.
Nations system, mindful of the provisions of the annex to Economic and Social
2/3