Pre-SACOSAN Civil Society Meeting

On 16 & 17 November 2008 a pre-SACOSAN civil society meeting was organised by FAN South Asia, WaterAid and WSSCC. These three organisations worked to ensure that grassroots NGOs have a platform to express their concerns to the SACOSAN delegates. They have conducted an inclusive and consultative process with NGOs and community leaders at national and regional levels to identify the gaps and challenges that are stopping the sanitation-related MDG target from being met.

Among the calls of over 100 grassroots organisations are:

improved sector monitoring, measuring totally sanitised communities and related health outcomes
pro-poor sanitation, implementing programmes focusing particularly on the urban poor
improved sanitation facilities to ensure 100% enrolment in girl's schools
better sector efficiency in building capacity to ensure sector allocations are used

South Asia is dangerously behind in providing the health, dignity and economic well being that comes with access to improved sanitation and will not meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goal sanitation target unil 2043 - 28 years too late.

SACOSAN developments will be monitored at www.wateraid.org/sacosan.

A Silent Candlelight Vigil was dedicated to all who have died from diarrhoea in the region since 2006. A fundamental truth is that poor sanitation is a major obstacle in the fight to reduce child mortality. Diarrhoea is the leading cause of child deaths in South Asia and strong political leadership is urgently needed to address this crisis.

SACOSAN III

The third South Asian Sanitation Conference was held in New Delhi, from 18 to 21 November 2008. SACOSAN is largely government led, with many government delegations run by high level decision makers. It brings together key government officials, donors, NGOs and the media. The debates at SACOSAN impact national policies and practices in the region, with governments making commitments through a signed ministerial declaration.

The 2008 Delhi declaration is, among others, calling for a recognition of the right to sanitation and safe drinking water as a basic human right; for an inclusive process of achieving sanitation for all involving all stakeholders at all stages, especially local governments, community and grassroots groups; and a prioritisation of the needs of women and the most vulnerable.

For more information visit www.sacosanindia.org.