Speech by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen on Water Sanitation and Hygiene

Toespraak | 05-12-2012

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Dutch have many words to describe the weather.

So it’s not surprising that they also have many ways to describe water.

Because plenty of it falls from the sky here − as you’ve probably noticed over the last few days.

How different things are for Abduba, the village elder of Forole on the Kenyan border.

She and the other women from her village had to walk miles, all the way to Ethiopia, to fetch water.

Water contaminated with baboon droppings, that made people sick.

But there was no alternative.

Abduba told her story in 2009.

A year later an important target was reached, halving the percentage of people around the world without access to safe drinking water.

More and more people have access to safe water, but not always nearby.

And sometimes they can’t rely on the local water tap because of low pressure problems.

Women like Abduba often have to walk miles.

So the challenge is no longer simply to provide clean drinking water, but also to improve supply and sanitation.

And it’s not only homes that need drinking water, latrines and washing facilities, but also schools and hospitals.

You already know why we’re putting so much effort into making drinking water, sanitary facilities and hygiene ─ or WASH for short ─ more accessible, and why we’re here today.

But the hard facts are often left out of the picture, so I’d like to remind you of a few today.

In developing countries diarrhoea is still the second main cause of death in the under-fives.

It kills 1.5 million children every year.

One in three children of school age in developing countries have worms.

This makes it harder for them to concentrate at school, which in turn affects their grades.

What’s more, worms cause malnutrition and stunting.

Many women in developing countries have to walk a long way to fetch water.

They don’t have a latrine so they have to go outside, in the open.

This makes them vulnerable and they are sometimes raped.

According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 780 million people around the world have no access to safe drinking water and some 2.5 billion have no toilet.

This situation persists even though access to sanitary facilities and clean drinking water reduces disease,

helps children do better at school,

and gives people dignity and greater equality.

Equality between men and women, between rich and poor.

So I’m glad that you’re thinking about new targets, criteria and indicators for the post-2015 WASH development agenda.

And that you’re showing how we can measure the progress towards these targets.

And how we can use this to improve human rights.

But please don’t forget about the targets we’re still working on until 2015.

I’d like to highlight the fact that the world met the MDG 7 drinking water target in 2010 according to the indicator recommended by the UN General Assembly.

Monitoring for the water MDGs has set an example for all other MDGs.

This positive experience and the professionalism we’ve shown is clearly reflected in the preparatory work carried out for this conference and in the overall results.

The proposal for consolidated drinking water, sanitation and hygiene target indicators and definitions for 2015 onwards has received wide appreciation and support at this conference.

The highlights for me are the prospect of monitoring the rights-based approach by looking at inequalities,

the greater attention to sustainability,

the broad focus on service levels, as well as

access and inclusion of water and sanitation outside the household.

Although your technical proposal still requires some work, the need to focus on the political process ahead has been recognised over the past few days.

There’s no doubt that water deserves a key place among the new development goals.

To achieve this, we need to be smart.

Firstly, we need to work on an inspirational message that’s clear to all.

Building on the proposed targets that by 2030 everyone uses a basic level of drinking water supply and that by 2040 everyone uses adequate sanitation with due attention to hygiene.

Secondly, there needs to be a clear action plan for influencing the decision-making process en route to the new development goals.

And thirdly, we need to fully utilise the many links with other themes and sectors.

I would like to re-emphasise the appeal by His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange to build strategic alliances in the months to come.

Not only on the broader themes of waste water and water management, but also health, gender and education.

As a co-host of the thematic consultation on water, the Netherlands will provide you with all the backing you need to generate support for the goals and targets you’ve drafted.

I will present the results of your valuable work to the High Level Panel that advises the UN Secretary-General on post-2015 development goals.

When the High Level Panel report is discussed at the General Assembly, the Netherlands will strive to ensure that water is given a prominent place on the post-2015 development agenda.

Our message is clear: the Netherlands is highly committed to WASH.

It’s no coincidence that you are gathered here in our country.

The Netherlands is also co-leading the thematic consultations on the post-2015 development agenda for water.

And we’re planning to organise a World Water Day conference on 21 and 22 March at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

The aim is to discuss the results of the global thematic sub-consultations on WASH, water resources, wastewater management and water quality.

The outcome will lead to recommendations to the High Level Panel.

But Dutch support goes further than words.

After this meeting I’ll be signing two UNICEF financing requests.

The first is for a WASH programme in nine countries in West and Central Africa to provide clean drinking water, latrines and showers for the poorest of the poor.

The second is for a programme that will build on UNICEF’s successful WASH programme in Mozambique.

Thanks to the Netherlands’ contribution, UNICEF will be able to sign a sustainability compact with the local government and users.

To make sure sanitary facilities continue to function, maintain water quality and ensure people use the latrines and then wash their hands – all for a period of at least ten years.

Ladies and gentleman,

The Netherlands may have many ways to describe water.

And you know plenty of different names for toilets and water points.

But in the end it’s all about people having clean water, using latrines and washing their hands.

It isn’t words that achieve development but actions.

The Netherlands is keen to be a part of taking action for water.

So that we don’t just set WASH targets but actually achieve them in the decades to come.

Thank you.