Water for people

About three billion people are without adequate sanitation, one billion remain without safe water supply and 5000 children die each day from diarrhoeal diseases. This is a situation that has to change. We are still losing the battle for universal access to safe water and adequate sanitation. VISION 21 pictures "A clean and healthy world: A world in which every person has safe and adequate water and sanitation and lives in a hygienic environment". The core points of Vision 21 include putting people first, human rights to basic services and water and sanitation as an entry point to development. People's participation is a central issue. The emphasis must be placed on tapping the energy and resources of people. We must encourage and enable local communities and others to work in partnership to plan, initiate and manage improved water and sanitation systems and hygiene education programmes.