A/HRC/10/6 page 12 Cultural barriers and the taboo nature of the topic are a serious challenge to examining sanitation. As was stated by the Chairman of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB), “it is time to break through the taboo, to call a spade a spade or a toilet a toilet and start doing something about this unacceptable killer”.36 The international community cannot shy away from this subject simply because it is uncomfortable, unmentionable, unpopular, or just because it is a very private matter that can be challenging to consider publicly. Sanitation and the human rights obligations concerning this subject must in fact be addressed in a direct and open manner. The independent expert hopes to contribute to this endeavour. 32. In carrying out her mandate, the independent expert will work towards clarifying the content of human rights obligations regarding access to sanitation. In this regard, she plans to organize a consultation on this subject in 2009. 33. This particular focus on sanitation during the first year of her mandate, does not mean that the independent expert will disregard water during that period of time - there are inextricable links between the two, and public policies for water and sanitation have to be seen as part of an integrated strategy. In fact, clean drinking water supplies cannot be secured without adequate attention to sanitation, since human excreta remains one of the most serious sources of drinking water contamination. The absence of adequate sanitation leads to the extensive pollution of water sources that communities depend on for survival. Thus, it is impossible to consider one without the other. V. METHODOLOGY CONCERNING PRIORITIES IN ACTIVITIES DURING THE FIRST YEAR: BEST PRACTICES 34. As called for in the resolution establishing her mandate, the independent expert will particularly examine best practices. During the first year, she wishes to elaborate a methodology, focused on developing criteria or prerequisites that will enable her to classify a practice as a “good practice”.37 In order to report on this, resources permitting, the independent expert wishes to organize an expert consultation on criteria for identifying good practices, in order to ensure an early exchange of views, experiences and opinions. 35. Additionally, in the course of 2009, the independent expert plans to organize a mission to New York in order to help her formulate the recommendations she will submit regarding the realization of the MDGs. She is equally planning two country missions for 2009, which will allow her to gather practical and concrete information concerning the priorities identified, as well as the full range of issues covered by her mandate. 36 37 HRH the Prince of Orange, Duisenberg Lecture, Washington D.C., 12 October 2008. Although the resolution refers to “best practices”, it is the opinion of the independent expert that rarely can a practice be qualified as best and that the concept of good practices is preferable.