WHO and UNICEF’s Joint Monitoring Programme tracks progress toward SDG 6. Recent global updates show that billions of people still lack safely managed drinking water and sanitation, and many lack basic hygiene at home—with the largest gaps in low-income and fragile contexts. Women and girls often bear disproportionate time burdens fetching water. This cause backs infrastructure, governance, climate-resilient services, and financing so communities gain reliable safe water, toilets, and handwashing—reducing disease and freeing time for education and livelihoods.