The summit in Durban was held under the theme “Water and Sanitation is a Human Right”. This was to coincide with South Africa’s March calendar celebrations, centred around Human Rights. The summit was officially opened by South Africa’s president, Dr. Jacob Zuma, who also chairs the Heads of State Committee on the UN High Level Panel on Water.
A landmark action at the summit involved the launch of the 17th edition of UN World Water Development Report, which focuses on the critical role of wastewater management for vibrant economies, resilient societies and the maintenance of healthy environments across the globe.
His Excellency Dr. Jacob Zulu on behalf of the High-Level Panel on Water, in his statement noted that the 2017 World Water Development Report paints a bleak picture to the current status on access to essential water and sanitation services. He called upon world leaders to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
He further noted that although the report presented a distressing situation, it also calls for urgent action to the efficient management of water and sanitation. He noted: “We have the potential to create a new and more positive economic and social development pathway through, amongst others, water infrastructure investments, valuing water, catalysing change, building partnerships and international cooperation, as well as creating better human settlements and data….We have the United Nations 20130 Agenda to point the way. Here in Africa, we have an even longer term and complementary sustainable development strategy in the form of the African Union’s 2063 Agenda.”
Apart from the UN World Water Development Report, President Zuma also presented a Declaratory Statement on roll-out activities of the High-Level Panel on Water at domestic, regional and global levels.
Resounding the Presidents words on the need for countries to outline progress made in meeting water and sanitation goals, GWPSA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Alex Simalabwi noted that the report is an inspiration to GWPSA’s grand plan of implementing its 2017 theme on “the Change Agenda” and getting Country Water Partnerships publish and launch national annual status reports on Water, Jobs and Investment.
Read President Jacob Zuma’s WWD speech during the launch.
Picture: Right, Mr. Alex Simalabwi, ES (GWPSA), with President Jacob Zuma (Centre)