Dear all,

Thanks for initiating this discussion. That water and sanitation are human rights is not so much of a debate now-what is really the debate is how it can be implemented.

I agree that people can’t drink rights but if they are implemented (which is about the obligation to respect, protect and fulfil) then people can actually drink them!

First of all the right to water and sanitation needs to be domesticated and it does not necessarily mean amending national constitutions, it only means an addition to the other rights that are already signed up to by governments. (Though in some cases-it might be more complex than that)

For financing-we need to look at the right o water implemented through budgets which could mean that money is appropriated for inclusive service delivery designs, community management systems are budgeted for including awareness and training on their rights, inclusion of communities in planning, monitoring and auditing processes –government should budget fro their participation. It also means that when governments are budgeting for schools and markets, they must as a matter of policy include the provision of water and sanitation services in the school or market project.

But it is also necessary to note that in reality, there are other competing interests like education, health and environment among other rights but this does not come inc conflict with the right to water especially as rights are interrelated and complementary. So while meeting the rights to education by building schools and training teachers without a school borehole or toilet, you are stopping children form going to school especially girls who need these facilities more in the school and female teachers will also refuse to be posted to such schools and even if they are, they will not always be there to teach the children.

As such, governments need to recognise this and address this under a cross sectoral approach to planning which will be reflected in national and local government budgets.. CSOs need to come together and agree on a common policy alternative that links these rights together and as a human right, communities need to recognise that they have a responsibility not just to hold governments accountable but to maintain these services and strengthen local feedback platforms....I’ll stop for now

Dear Members of the Equity and Inclusion Group of RWSN,

Welcome to the first E&I online discussion that will take place from today until the 4 May, 2012 in preparation of the World Bank – RWSN Webinar on June 5, 2012 on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation with the UN Special Rapporteur, Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque.  

The Human Right to Water and sanitation – what does it mean to your work?

The human right to water and sanitation is guaranteed as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living as consecrated in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (a treaty which is binding for 160 countries). This has implications for the work of rural water supply professionals and practitioners. It also has implications for water users as well as national and local leaders.

But have you thought about what it actually means for you, and your engagement with others? People can’t drink rights. Professionals and practitioners in the sector are still trying to understand how the human right to water can, and will make a difference to the 780 million people who still do not have access to adequate water sources and the billions who do not have safe water. They are also trying to figure out how human rights can contribute to ending open defecation and generating greater support and prioritization of sanitation. How rights actually make a difference is not yet clear to all.  The UN Special Rapporteur wants to know what the hopes, fear and questions of water users, professionals, practitioners and decision-makers are. She would like also to know what their experiences  - both negative and positive -and ideas for the sectors are, so that she can take them into account in her work, namely in the elaboration of Guidelines for Implementing the Right to Water and Sanitation. You can find out about the role of the Special Rapporteur on her website, and some useful background documents. http://www.ohchr.org/srwaterandsanitation

The QUESTION for this E-discussion:

(Texts in French and Spanish are included after the text in English)

The RWSN “Equity and Inclusion” group invites you to articulate your hopes, fears, questions and suggestions about how the Human Right to Water affects the finance, planning and implementation of rural water supplies projects and programmes.

Le groupe « Equité et Inclusion » du RWSN vous invite à partager vos espoirs, peurs, interrogations et suggestions sur la question de comment le droit humain à l’eau affecte les financements, le planning, la mise en œuvre de projets et programmes d’approvisionnement en eau potable en milieu rural.

El grupo de “Equidad e Inclusión” de la RWSN les invita a pronunciar sus esperanzas, miedos, preguntas y sugerencias sobre cómo el Derecho Humano al agua afecta el financiamiento, planificación y la implementación de los proyectos y programas de abastecimiento de agua rural.

Please share your thoughts by clicking on “reply” and let’s build a thread with your answers!

Don’t forget to have a look at the attached document: “The Human Right to Water and Sanitation Milestones”, which might be a good resource on the topic.

Looking forward to hearing from you, I send you my warmest greetings,

Bertha

Bertha Camacho

Knowledge Management Specialist

Skat_Swiss Resource Centre and Consultancies for Development

Dear all,

Daraja is doing media monitoring of the water sector. As part of this activity, we have established a blog which will post all articles appear in the media (newspaper) related to water issues. The objective of this activity is to systematically monitor and analyze water issues reported in the media as well as keeping the wadau informed. Our analysis of the media coverage of the water sector shows that there is an average of one article in every two days. Media has been very important instrument in scrutinizing and pressurizing performance of various development sector. What can we do to increase media focus in the water sector so as to improve water services?

Pls join us in following up water related issues reported in the media by visiting www.majimedia.org . We also welcome ideas and comments.

Thank you for cooperation.

Regards

Richard

Programme Manager

Raising the Water Pressure Programme

Daraja Development LTD

PO Box 736

Njombe

+255 754 696 343