Water, Sanitation and Dignity 1 Stefanie Kaiser, seecon international gmbh

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Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: Contents 1. Introduction 2. Dignity, Water and Sanitation 3. Groups Vulnerable to Indignity 4. Sustainable Sanitation and Human Dignity 5. References 3

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: Worldwide use of improved sanitation facilities in Source: WHO & UNICEF (2010) “Water is life. Sanitation is dignity.” 1. Introduction... but in 2012, still 2.5 billion people lack improved sanitation facilities... and 780 million people do not use improved sources of drinking water. UNICEF (2012)

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: What Does Dignity in Relation to Water and Sanitation Mean? 2. Dignity, Water and Sanitation Dignity = A being has an innate right to respect and ethical treatment. Today‘s situation: Inequalities by different access to water & sanitation. The poor often must be content with polluted water and unhealthy & unsafe sanitation facilities. Unsheltered or far away defecation options leave women exposed to risks and with a sense of shame. GNANAKAN et al. (2004)  To fight these inequalities is a precondition to ensure a life in dignity for everybody. Source: LIFEWATER (2012)

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: Is rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of societies around the world and enshrined in international human rights instruments. UNMP- TWS (2005) e.g. “The right to life and human dignity” in the International Bill of Human Rights.  The right to sanitation entitles every person to access to, and use of, excreta and wastewater facilities and services that ensure privacy and dignity. Access to Water and Sanitation as Moral and Ethical Imperative 2. Dignity, Water and Sanitation

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: #1 The Poor 3. Groups Vulnerable to Indignity Various societal groups are facing everyday life circumstances which do not correspond to the concept of a life in dignity: The Poor: In developing countries, 90 % of the sewage from conventional toilets is flushed into surface waters, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas. This has contributed to the spread of diseases mainly amongst the poor. GNANAKAN et al. (2004); UNICEF (2006) Due to absence of waste management, these community members in Senegal, are cleaning their water stream from solid waste. Source: TRATSCHIN (2007)

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: #2 Women, Girls and Children 8 3. Groups Vulnerable to Indignity Source: [Accessed: ] Indignity to defecate and urinate in the open. Risk of assault, rape outside the village as well as in urban areas. COHRE et al. (2008) Poor hygienic conditions of public sanitary facilities Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Waiting until dark, drinking less, ‘holding out’ or modifying their diets. This causes physical harm and all kinds of health problems. At least 1.8 million children die every year as a result of unclean water and poor sanitation. LIFEWATER (2012)

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: #3 Sick and Elderly People & People with Disabilities 3. Groups Vulnerable to Indignity Sick and elderly people face special difficulty and a loss of dignity when sanitation facilities are not available nearby. GNANAKAN et al. (2004) Attempts to increase coverage of basic services such as water and sanitation have too often marginalised or excluded the needs of disabled people. HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL (2008) An elderly man uses a walking stick as he walks past concrete latrine covers in Kitgum. Source: blogs/the-debating-chamber/innovations-to-expand-sanitation-as-a-business [Accessed: ] blogs/the-debating-chamber/innovations-to-expand-sanitation-as-a-business

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: #4 Forced Manual Excreta Scavengers 3. Groups Vulnerable to Indignity Inadequate sanitation solutions also maintain inequalities within societies. Mainly in India, but as well other parts of South Asia, several people (called „Dalit“ or „Untouchables“) are forced to do the extremely degrading and inhumane practice of manually cleaning and removing human excreta from dry (non-flush) toilets. GNANAKAN et al. (2004) Passing the faecal sludge to the top of the pit latrine. Source: /in/photostream /in/photostream [Accessed: ]

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: Sustainable Sanitation as Contribution to Restoring Human Dignity 4. Sustainable Sanitation and Dignity By promoting sustainable sanitation, human dignity can be restored in many aspects of human life: Adapted from GNANAKAN et al. (2004); BRUECHER et al. (2005) Education School sanitation increases girls’ enrolment. Economy If waste is turned into a useful resource, this restores the dignity of those dealing with it. Exploitation Sanitation options which foreclose the direct handling of human faeces. Health & Safety More and more safely constructed toilets can enable people to leave the vicious cycle of diseases and poverty.

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: References BRUECHER, J.; CONRADIN, K.; KROPAC, M.; WILLARETH, M. (Editor) (2005): Ecological Sanitation - A Sustainability Approach. With an Indian Case Study on Social Aspects and a Critical Think Piece on Economic Aspects. Seminar “Socially Acceptable Technical Innovations”, Programme MGU (Mensch-Gesellschaft-Umwelt). Basel: University of Basel. COHRE (Editor); WATERAID SDC (Editor); UN-HABITAT (Editor) (2008): Sanitation: A human Rights Imperative. Geneva: Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE). HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL (Editor) (2008): How To Build an Accessible Environment in Developing Countries. Manual No. 2 – Access to Water and Sanitation Facilities. Part 1 – Toilets and Closed Showers. Phnom Pemh: Handicap International France Cambodia Program. URL: International/PDF%20Documents/HI%20Associations/AccessibleEnvironmentDev2_Part1_2008.pdfInternational/PDF%20Documents/HI%20Associations/AccessibleEnvironmentDev2_Part1_2008.pdf [Accessed: ]. GNANAKAN, K.; JENSSEN, P.D.; HEEB, J.; HUBA-MANG, E.; WARNER, W.; REFSGAARD, K.; STENSTROEM, T.A.; GUTERSTRAM, B.; ALSEN, K.W. (2004): Ecological Sanitation and Reuse of Wastewater. Ecosan. A Thinkpiece on ecological sanitation. Norway: The Agricultural University of Norway. URL: ww.uio.no/studier/emner/medisin/ww.uio.no/studier/emner/medisin/ inthealth/INTHE4000/h07/undervisningsmateriale/Water%20and%20Health%20article.pdfinthealth/INTHE4000/h07/undervisningsmateriale/Water%20and%20Health%20article.pdf [Accessed: ]. Lifewater (2012): Potty Papers/Where Would You Go? URL: [Accessed: ]. UNICEF (Editor) (2006): Children and Water: Global Statistics. New York: UNICEF. URL: wash/index_31600.htmlwash/index_31600.html [Accessed: ]. UNICEF (2012): Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Introduction. URL: [Accessed: ]. UN MILLENNIUM PROJECT TASK FORCE ON WATER AND SANITATION (UNMP-TWS) (Editor) (2005): Health, Dignity and Development: What Will it Take?. London: United Nations Development Programme. URL: org/documents/WaterComplete-lowres.pdforg/documents/WaterComplete-lowres.pdf [Accessed: ].

Water, Sanitation and Dignity Find this presentation and more on: References WHO (Editor); UNICEF (Editor) (2010): Progress on Sanitation and Drinking-Water Update. Geneva: World Health Organisation (WHO) / New York: UNICEF. URL: [Accessed: ].

Water, Sanitation and Dignity 14 “Linking up Sustainable Sanitation, Water Management & Agriculture” SSWM is an initiative supported by: Created by: