主な式典におけるおことば(平成20年)

皇太子殿下のおことば

国連「水と衛生に関する諮問委員会」第10回会合開会式
平成20年5月26日 (月)(ザ・プリンス・パークタワー東京)

Address by His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince
on the Occasion of the Opening Ceremony of
the 10th Meeting of the United Nations Secretary-General's
Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation
Monday, 26th May, 2008
The Prince Park Tower Tokyo

Your Royal Highness, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome you all to Tokyo for the tenth meeting of the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. I am particularly happy to welcome our illustrious chairman His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander and all the members of the Board as this is my first official meeting since becoming your honorary president last November.

This time of the year our long rainy season will be starting after the refreshing days of spring. Blessed with the four seasons that give us the benefit of their changes throughout the year, we have double the world's average precipitation per land area. However, per capita precipitation is just one-third of the world average. This is because of the dense population to land ratio. As many of you know, ensuring an adequate water supply and preventing water-related disasters of all kinds have been our national challenges since ancient times. Since precipitation in Japan is concentrated in the rainy season and the typhoon season that follows high mountain ranges do not allow rain water retention on the land. Rain water quickly rushes out to the sea.

Serious water and sanitation problems in many parts of the world demand urgent local solutions. The United Nations has reported that 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and that 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. Every year, huge numbers of children lose their lives to water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever. And many parts of the world are threatened with water-related disasters.

Recently, many have lost their lives or are missing because of the cyclone that hit Myanmar and the earthquake in China. Schools and hospitals and vast numbers of homes have been destroyed. The destruction of water supply systems and wells are depriving many thousands of people of drinking water. Infectious diseases are rampant. Now there are fears of secondary consequences of collapsing dams and debris flow. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, and all those who are experiencing untold suffering. I pray that the work of recovery and rehabilitation will take place with all speed.

Having participated in the Third and Fourth World Water Forums, I understand how water supply and sanitation improve the status of women and contribute to children's education. All around the world we are working together across regions and generations to seek solutions. I recall vividly how a large number of participants at the First Asia-Pacific Water Summit that took place in December last Year seriously debated what could be done to resolve regional water problems such as the melting of the glaciers and rising of the sea levels.

The Advisory Board has taken the initiative to actively promote the importance of understanding and implementing solutions to water and sanitation problems, and of hearing the voices of those who suffer from them. The role expected of the Board is sure to grow given the serious challenges posed by current situation.

At its three-day meeting in the International Year of Sanitation the Board will be addressing a number of issues under the headings of realization of the Hashimoto Action Plan and of the new topics “Dialogue with Japan” and “Dialogue on water and sanitation with African leaders”. I am sure the Board will use this opportunity wisely to advance discussion on the creation of an environment that ensures continuous availability of safe drinking water and basic sanitation, as well as the building of local communities resilient to water hazards.

In closing, I pray that this Board meeting will meet the expectations of the members and all the participants.

Thank you.