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Published on April 22, 2016
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim announced on Thursday the appointment of 10 Heads of State and Government, as well as two Special Advisors, to the Panel, according to the UN headquarters.
The panel, which is aimed at mobilising “effective action” to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6, was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos last January.
The SDG6 focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
President of Mauritius (Co-Chair) Ameenah Gurib, President of Mexico (Co-Chair) Enrique Peña Nieto, Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull, President of Hungary János Áder, and Prime Minister of Jordan Abdullah Ensour are the other members of the panel.
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, President of Senegal Macky Sall, and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon are also members.
Former Prime Minister of South Korea Han Seung-soo, and Minister of State for the Environment of Peru Manuel Pulgar-Vidal are the two special advisers.
“Ensuring water and sanitation for all is crucial for reducing poverty and achieving other Sustainable Development Goals,” said Ban in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
In his statement, he urged all partners to rally behind SDG 6 with political, financial and technological support.
Today, more than 2.4 billion people lack access to improved sanitation and at least 663 million do not have access to safe drinking water.
Poor sanitation, water, and hygiene lead to about 675,000 premature deaths annually, and an estimated annual economic loss of up to seven per cent of GDP in some countries, according to the UN.
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