A historic water conference has opened at the UN headquarters in New York.

The event is co-chaired by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.

The three-day event is a unique opportunity to ensure that all people have access to safe water and sanitation by 2030.

“This conference must represent a quantum leap in the capacity of Member States and the international community to recognize and act upon the vital importance of water to our world’s sustainability and as a tool to foster peace and international co-operation,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

He underscored that water is a human right and critical to development that will shape a better global future.