Professor Juliet Willetts appointed UN Special Rapporteur on human rights to water and sanitation

At UTS-ISF, her research across Asia and the Pacific and elsewhere has covered issues ranging from pro-poor service delivery and governance to climate resilience and inequality. She was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to co-lead the design of the $160 million Water for Women fund and has worked with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, World Bank and Sanitation and Water for All.

In taking on the UN mandate, Professor Willetts has identified the period beyond the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals as an important opportunity to ensure the human rights to water and sanitation remain embedded in the global agenda.

She will also focus on strengthening governance and accountability, while addressing the growing effects of climate change on water security and access to services. Sanitation, where progress and investment continue to lag, will be a particular focus, alongside the inequalities experienced by women and marginalised communities.

“With the end of the SDGs approaching, and realisation of these rights far from reality with evident persistent inequalities, securing this commitment is imperative,” she said.

“I hope the mandate can achieve increased dialogue on difficult areas where there are divergent viewpoints, across governments, civil society and other actors.”

Reflecting on her time at UTS-ISF, Professor Willetts said the Institute's approach to applied research has helped prepare her for the international role.

“My work at UTS-ISF over the last 25 years has given me a firm grounding to approach this role and mandate”, she said.  
  
“Working across diverse topics and with a broad set of community, country, regional and global stakeholders makes me value different perspectives and knowledges that can be brought to bear to progress realisation of these rights.”