EU Statement – UN General Assembly: Second informal consultation of the HLPF Ministerial Declaration – Excerpt on SDG6.
17 April 2026, New York – Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by Mr. Loann Marquant, European Union Delegation to the United Nations, at the Second informal consultation of the High-Level Political Forum’s Ministerial Declaration.
On SDG6, we underscore that water and sanitation are fundamental human rights and that this SDG is a critical enabler of the 2030 Agenda. While progress has been made, we remain concerned that the world is not on track to achieve SDG6 by 2030.
We call for a strengthened commitment to universal access to safe, affordable and climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene services, including menstrual hygiene, with particular attention to women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
We further stress the importance of integrated water resources management, including at transboundary level, and of addressing water quality through the prevention and reduction of pollution.
Recognizing the interlinkages between water, food systems, ecosystems and climate, we highlight the importance of protecting the global water cycle and promoting sustainable water use across sectors. Strengthened international cooperation, including through the UN system-wide strategy on water and sanitation and the mandate of the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Water, will be key to accelerating progress. In this regard, we would also like to highlight the importance of the 2026 UN Water Conference at the end of this year. This conference will be a critical milestone for accelerating progress towards the achievement of SDG 6.
