Sustainable Sanitation: The Five-Year-Drive to 2015

Sanitation has received another major boost at the international level: On December 20, 2010 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing a global effort to realize “Sustainable Sanitation: The Five-Year-Drive to 2015”

What is it all about: The Resolution (A/RES/65/153) calls upon the UN Member States to “redouble efforts to close the sanitation gap”. This can be achieved by scaling-up ground-level activities, community participation and the further mobilization of financial and technological resources, complimented by better political prioritization of sanitation. The resolution calls for an end to open defecation as an extremely harmful practice for public health. It also encourages behavior change and highlights the need to also consider all aspects of sanitation, including sewerage and wastewater treatment and reuse.

In 2011, the Five Year Drive will be launched on occasion of several official events at the international as well as regional level. In addition, international actors are coordinating under the auspices of UN Water, to start rolling out the Five Year Drive.

The Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) is invited to play an active role as an implementing partner of the Five Year Drive.

Resolution A/RES/65/153 Follow-up of the International Year of Sanitation, 2008 (PDF)

Last Updated ( 26.04.2011 )

Resources for: