The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday urged leaders and experts attending the World Water Forum to provide all children with access to adequate sanitation facilities and hand-washing materials and facilities.

UNICEF said that inadequate sanitation facilities and poor hygiene are global problems that directly contribute to the spread of preventable diseases. It noted that a lack of separate facilities for boys and girls often contributes to girls dropping out of school.

"Some 2.4 billion people, nearly half of humanity, are consigned to life in almost medieval conditions because of unclean or nonexistent sanitation facilities," UNICEF Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, said.

"Children have a right to the highest quality health, as enshrined in the Convention of Rights of The Child. Access to clean, functioning a safe sanitation facilities is integral to that right because good sanitation safeguards not only our health but our human dignity." she said.

"Lack of sanitation is simply a public health disaster and an affront to human dignity," Bellamy added. " The health and lives of more than half the world's children are at risk due to poor sanitation systems. It confronts them everywhere. It is vital that local and national decision-makers take this into account."

The 2nd World Water Forum, taking place from March 17-22 in The Hague, is intended to generate political commitment to improve water management. As part of its participation, UNICEF is sponsoring two sessions: the Sanitation Taboo and Global Environmental sanitation Initiative.

UNICEF is an active player in the Global Environmental Sanitation Initiative, which seeks to raise global awareness and extend sanitation coverage of all.