UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SANITATION 2008

That this House recognises the appropriateness of 2008 being declared as the UN International Year of Sanitation; notes with concern that globally 2.6 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation; further notes that with half of developing country populations still lacking basic sanitation, the Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to basic sanitation by 2015 is unlikely to be met; applauds the Government on its Global Plan for Water and Sanitation; urges the Government to implement the recommendations of its Global Plan, by prioritising sanitation at country level; and calls on the Government to recognise that improving global access to sanitation, good hygiene practices and safe drinking water are equally essential for holistic and sustainable development.