text: to local economic, social and physical c%ditions. Hence, the application of differing suitability criteria has a strong bearing on levels of coverage reported. /1 l .A/45/327 English Page 3 5. Recommendation C.12 of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements held in Vancouver, Canada, in 1976, 2: called for urgent action to adopt programmes with realistic standards for quality and quantity to provide water for urban and rural areas by 1990 if possibler and to adopt and accelerate programmes for the sanitary disposal of excrete and waste water in urban and rural areas. Subsequently, the United Nations Water Confer,nce, held in Mar de1 Plata, Argentina, in 1977, recommended that the decade 1961 to 1990 be designated the International D--inking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade. 6. The plan of action on community water supply contained in resolution II 31 of the Water Conference recognised the serious health consequences of a lack of safe water supply and sanitation, and stressed the need to accord priority to the poor and less privileged and to water scarce areas. It also called upon countries to establish realistic goals for 1990. In order to reach these goals, the Conference recommended that countries should develop national plans and programmes for community watar supply and sanitation; initiate immediately engineering and feasibility studies on projects of the highest priorityt assess their manpower situation and establish training programmes; promote campaigns to mobilize public opinion and community participationt establish appropriate institutions with specific responsibilities for the planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes; co..ordinate efforts to ensure the provision of technically and socially acceptable sanitary facilities; and develop national revolving funds to encourage the mobilisation of resources and equitable participation of beneficiaries, while discouraging wasteful consumption. 7. At the international level, the Plan of Action called upon international and
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the importance of providing safe water supply and sanitation in urban and rural areas, with a focus on international recommendations and guidelines. The language used is formal and technical, suggesting a policy or planning document. The text also touches on the social and health consequences of lack of access to safe water and sanitation, which is a key aspect of human development.