internationa sanitation year 2008

The United Nations officially launched the International Year of Sanitation to accelerate progress for 2.6 billion people world wide who are without proper sanitation facilities. The International Year of Sanitation logo was unveiled and the IYS public service announcement as well as the message of Gareth Thomas of the Department for International Development UK viewed. The launch of IYS, which runs through 2008, was organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in collaboration with the UN-Water Task Force on Sanitation. The event was attended by UN Member States, NGOs, citizen groups, academics and the private sector as well as members of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board