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The latest global Report on the theme of climate change was launched on 27 November 2007.

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Launch of the 2006 Report

Cape Town, South Africa, 9 November 2006

The global launch of the Human Development Report 2006: "Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis" was held on 9 November 2006 at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma, welcomed the distinguished participants of the ceremony and all attendees. The President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, made the opening address. Among the guest speakers were H.R.H. Prince Willem-Alexender of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange, the Minister of Finance of the Republic of South Africa, Trevor Manuel, UNDP Administrator, Kemal Dervis, Director Sunita Narain of the Centre for Science and Environment (India), UN Resident Coordinator Scholastica Kimaryo and Kevin Watkins, Director of the Human Development Report Office and Lead Author of the Report.

Participants presented the Report's call to action, which urges the international community to bring the global water crisis back to the foreground and stresses water for life and water for livelihoods as its foundations. Analysis of the situation leads to rejecting the view that the global water crisis implies absolute shortages of physical supply. At the heart of the crisis are poverty, inequality and unequal power relationships, as well as ineffective water management policies that aggravate scarcity issues. Lead Author Kevin Watkins outlined the basis for identifying solutions to the water and sanitation crisis, making access to water a human right.

Parallel national launches took place in other capitals worlwide, with subsequent launches following suit across the world. The results have been extensive media coverage and the Report has generated an enormous amount of interest on the part of governments and civil society around the world. Now is the time to work on actions.

Speeches

Welcoming Remarks by Minister Dlamini Zuma
Launch of the 2006 Report
09 November 2006
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Speech by Kemal Derviş, UNDP Administrator
Launch of the 2006 Report
09 November 2006
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Speech by Kevin Watkins, Director and lead Author of the Human Development Report
Launch of the 2006 Report
09 November 2006
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Speech by Ad Melkert UN Under Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP
Launch of the 2006 Report
09 November 2006
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Photo gallery of the launch event