Statement by the Permanent Mission of Singapore at the Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation on 13 September 2016 at the Human Rights Council

We fully agree with the Special Rapporteur on the importance of safe, adequate and affordable access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

The statistics are sobering. 2.4 billion people do not have access to improved sanitation.

This is why Singapore strongly advocated a stand-alone goal on water and sanitation in the negotiations leading up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We also initiated the General Assembly resolution on “Sanitation for All”.

Since the resolution was adopted in 2013, the United Nations has commemorated three World Toilet Days. 

We hope that the annual commemoration of World Toilet Day will continue to raise awareness about all the people who do not have access to a toilet, and focus global attention on the urgent need to provide sanitation for all, in particular for women and girls.  

This also helps nations achieve SDG 6, which will not only improve the dignity and livelihoods of people around the world, but will also have positive effects on other SDGs, notably SDG 2 (on improved nutrition), SDG 3 (on healthy lives), and SDG 4 (on education).

Singapore has played an active role on this issue because we remain one of the most water-stressed countries in the world.

But we have tried to overcome our vulnerability by maximizing our water yield, thinking of water as an endlessly reusable resource, and turning seawater into drinking water through integrated water infrastructure planning, effective testing and application of new technology, and working with the community on water conservation.

Today, all Singaporeans, regardless of their social standing and gender, enjoy modern sanitation systems, and safe drinking water.

Mr President,

Singapore has been sharing our experiences on urban water management with countries facing the same challenges. We are learning from others too. 

Under our Sustainable Development Programme, which is a special technical assistance package launched last year to help our partners achieve the SDGs, we will partner UN agencies to provide capacity-building to promote sustainable urban development, including in the area of water and sanitation.

This year, we set up the Singapore Water Academy to enhance capability development for water professionals both internationally and locally.

Singapore remains committed to working with our international partners to promote sustainable urban water management and sanitation for all.

Thank you Mr President.

. . . . .