After a week of conferences, events and
discussions, the 6th World Water Forum which took place in
Marseilles just ended. Ministerial delegations, experts, NGOs gathered to
explain their solutions for water. This forum represents a key step to the
resolution of water related problems in the world, from sanitation and access
to clean water for all populations, to energy questions, including water
resources management in light of climate change and food security[1][2].
"The
right to water and sanitation ensures everyone the right to access safe drinking
water in sufficient and acceptable quantities, physically
accessible and affordable as well as sanitation", stated Corinne
Schuster-Wallace[3]
during the session organised by WHO on the subject. Unfortunately,
this statement is pure utopia at the moment. Since 1990, 1.8 billion people
have had access to improved sanitation facilities but 2.5 billion people still
lack sanitation. 1.1 billion human beings, or 15% of the world’s population
practice open defecation. More than 900 million people lack access to drinking
water from improved sources[4].
During the forum, lots of solutions were discussed.
If there are different approaches, there is only one objective: the resolution
of water related problems.
According to Piers Cross, from the Water and
Sanitation for All organisation, one solution is the cooperation between
education and the health sector. For some people, the answer to resolve water
problems will come from women. "In Africa, the water issue belongs to
women: they go to get water and bring it back in a bucket" says
Courtès Ketcha, mayor of Bangangté ,
Cameroon
[1] http://www.worldwaterforum6.org
[2] It
was a preparatory step
for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Rio +20, which
will be held from 20th to 22nd June 2012.
[3] Programme Officer for Water Nexus Health
[4] Source: Unicef,
http://volunteers.unicefusa.org/assets/pdf/unicef-usf-intro-notes.pdf
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