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AMCOW, a founding member of the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) global partnership, joins the global water and sanitation community in celebrating the life of Catarina de Albuquerque. Ms de Albuquerque devoted a good part of her life championing and mobilising political will in favour of water, sanitation and hygiene services provision.
Until her passing on 7 October 2025, she served as the Chief Executive Officer for SWA, the organisation she has worked with since 2014. She worked tirelessly to strengthen the partnership, providing strategic leadership compatible with its vision and high-level objectives.
In 2008, Ms. de Albuquerque was appointed the first UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. She played a pivotal role in the recognition of water and sanitation as human rights by the UN General Assembly in 2010. Her work helped ensure that the right to water and sanitation was incorporated into the language of the Sustainable Development Goals.
AMCOW extends deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all colleagues who had the honour of working with her.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
