Published on: 01/10/2013
In 2012, when Indian Minister Jairam Ramesh remarked that “the country needs more toilets than temples”, he was stripped of his additional post as Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Not all religious leaders object to linking temples to toilets though. On 25 September 2013, a Rabbi, a Swami, an Imam and a Sister of Mercy were among those who congregated at UNICEF House in New York to celebrate the launch of GIWA, the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance.
Inspired by the Earth Charter, GIWA’s 14 founding members, share a common goal: “a water-secure world [...] in which all children may enjoy their right to safe drinking water and to adequate sanitation”
The seed for GIWA was planted in the Peace Palace in The Hague during Wings for Water, a multi-stakeholder dialogue held in advance of 2013 World Water Day. In The Hague, GIWA co-founder Iman Umer Ahmed Ilyasi revealed his intention to engage India’s half a million imams as hygiene promoters.
The GIWA launch event was sponsored by the U.S. and the Netherlands and hosted by UNICEF. Before the end of 2013, GIWA plans to launch a website to share ideas and best practices and the results of ongoing projects.
Please see the links and downloads below for more information.
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