Making the Rights Real
Local government is arguably the most important level of government for realising the human rights to water and sanitation.
This is where national plans will be put into action and good, sustainable services for water and sanitation are built, run and maintained. However, explaining the importance of the human rights to water and sanitation to local government officials may sometimes be challenging.
ISF collaborated with WaterAid, WASH United, Skat Foundation, UNICEF and End Water Poverty to develop communication materials about the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (HRTWS), targeted at local government officials and service providers, and building on materials developed by Catarina D’Albuquerque, former UN special rapporteur.
These materials include three documents - a pocket guide with basic ideas and principles, a manual explaining each step of implementing the SDGs, and a visual tool demonstrating the process of implementing the SDGs.
Research outputs and resources:
Manual (screen and print version)
Keatman, T., Carrard, N., Neumeyer, H., Murta, J., Roaf, V., Al-hassan, A., (2016) Achieving universal and equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for all – practitioner perspectives and perceptions, 7th RWSN Forum. Abidjan
Realising the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation - From Policy to Practice
The human rights to water and sanitation were officially recognised by the UN General Assembly in 2010, but for many communities these rights can seem far from daily reality.
To make the rights a reality, WASH practitioners need to increase their familiarity with the components and principles of the rights, and the legal mechanisms that can translate them into national frameworks.
In collaboration with WaterAid, WASH United, Skat Foundation, and End Water Poverty, ISF researchers designed and delivered workshops at key sector conferences on challenges and opportunities to support progressive realisation of human rights to water and sanitation.
Research outputs and resources:
Realising the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation – From policy to practice - training course video from Water, Engineering and Development Conference 2015.
