Prince Willem-Alexander Reviews Water and Sanitation Objectives in Amsterdam

In his speech yesterday at the 8th Council Meeting of the Water and Sanitation Program in Amsterdam, the Prince of Orange reviewed objectives of the Hashimoto Action Plan. Furthermore, he challenged the attendees to advocate the International Year of Sanitation on the local and national level and said: “A month ago in New York we had a successful preparatory meeting on the International Year of Sanitation, where we pinpointed the general objectives. My main priority over the next seven months is to lobby as much support as possible. What we need are advocates to take the International Year of Sanitation to the national and local level. Sanitation must become a top priority at these levels. So I am here to ask for your support. I have already agreed with your chair in New York that the World Bank and WSP will be drawing up a plan of action to support the objectives of the IYS. I trust that with this plan we can work together to engage donors and governments.”

Prince Willem-Alexander's entire speech at 8th Council Meeting of the Water and Sanitation Program in Amsterdam can be read here.

Photo: Waternet

Shanghai Meeting for The Prince Of Orange

As chairman of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, the Prince of Orange has been engaged in numerous meetings regarding the organization of the International Year of Sanitation 2008.

In relation to the Hashimoto Action Plan, Prince Willem-Alexander continued his discourse on water and sanitation measures at the start of the Asian Dialogue at the Eighth Meeting of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation and said: “Our sole raison d’être is to speed up work on the water and sanitation goals. The Hashimoto Action Plan, named in memory of my predecessor, Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto, guides us in our work. It’s our first report. And our last. It is concise – just twelve pages long, with no new mandates or proclamations. Instead, it concentrates on the targets the international community has already set itself, building on knowledge that is already out there. So our message is a simple one: no more new ideas or policies. Instead, let’s implement the ones we already have. The plan’s main function is to focus on the actions that need to be taken and to challenge the people that will be responsible for turning words into deeds – this means you.”

“So today’s Regional Dialogue on Asia and the Pacific is a critical step in achieving the goals of the Hashimoto Action Plan. The UNSGAB members strongly believe that a regional approach, uniting governments, the water sector, water users and financial institutions, presents the best prospect of success.”

The Prince of Orange’s entire speech from the Eighth Meeting of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation in Shanghai entitled The Power of Numbers can be read here.

Photo: UNSGAB Secretariat