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Growing support for a dedicated water goal
March 2012: 3 member states

During the preparation phase in the lead-up to the 2012 Rio Summit, and more precisely in World Water Forum 6, 3 countries already expressed themselves in support of a water goal ( the Friends of Global Goal ).

June 2012

During the Summit itself, UNSGAB released its call for a Dedicated Water Goal which encompasses 3 priorities ( UNSGAB position paper ):

  1. Achieve universal access to sustainable sanitation and to drinking water that is really safe,
  2. Increase wastewater management and pollution prevention;
  3. Improve integrated water resources management and water-use efficiency.

The Rio Outcome document referred to all these themes ( the Rio outcome document (extract) )

Since Rio, support for this dedicated goal has grown.

May 2013

The High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons identified water as one theme for post 2015 goals ( The report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons (extract) )

June 2013: 1 new member state, new total of supportive member states 4

Switzerland expressed it support to a dedicated water goal ( current position paper )

11 October 2013

The Budapest Water Summit gathered more than 1400 participants and produced a Budapest Declaration calling for a dedicated water goal (the Budapest Statement )

March 2014

UNSGAB updated its call for a Dedicated Water Goal ( revised UNSGAB position paper )

22 March 2014: 57 member states including 56 new ones, new total 60

On World Water Day 2014 (22nd March 2014), 57 ambassadors to the UN in New York co-signed a supportive letter ( the letter )

24 March 2014: 5 new member states, new total 65

Two days later, 5 other ambassadors joined in ( the letter )

April / May 2014: 75 member states including 33 new ones, new total 108

During the 10th and 11th sessions of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, April / May 2014, a large number of countries and groups issued supportive statements that include;

United Nations