May 7th, 2007

Preparatory Meeting of International Year of Sanitation was held on May 7th, 2007 in UNICEF House, New York. Over 100 representatives of governments, the UN agencies, major groups, professionals, academia and other stakeholders from 29 countries participated in the meeting. UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon also attended the meeting. The meeting was co-hosted by UNSGAB, UN-DESA and UNICEF and chaired by HRH Prince of Orange, Chair of UNSGAB.

The discussion of the morning session, moderated by Ms. Uschi Eid, focused on Objectives of the International Year of Sanitation under which all the stakeholders can work together for the Year and beyond. After lively discussion, the participants agreed the attached Draft Objectives. It was also agreed that the draft is placed on UNSGAB website to ask further comments and suggestions by the participants as well as anybody who are interested.

Panelists discussed how key players on sanitation can act to make International Year of Sanitation "the year of real change" in High Panel discussion in the afternoon chaired by HRH Prince of Orange. Representatives of governments, financial institutions and civil society shared their views on who should do what and how in IYS and beyond.

Chair's Summary and draft Objectives of IYS were handed over to UN Secretary-General at the end of the meeting. Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon responded in his remarks that "I am encouraged to know that your meeting today has produced clear guidance about what we can do not only during the International Year, but beyond it, to bring the issue the attention and political priority it truly deserves." He assured that "all parts of the UN system, with coordination by UN-DESA and UN-Water, will draw on the meeting's outcome in mobilizing their actions for the Year at the global, regional, and country levels." He also called for all the stakeholders' actions by remarking "But efforts by UN agencies are just one part of the equation. Real change demands resources, commitment, policy changes and other concrete steps by governments, civil society and all stakeholders." He concluded his remarks by saying "Let us make this a remarkable Year of global sanitation achievement, one that generates real, positive changes for the millions and even billions of people who do not yet enjoy this basic ingredient of human welfare."

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