SACOSAN-III concludes with a call for according national priority to
Sanitation
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The Third South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-III) concluded
here today with a call for according national priority to Sanitation.
The Delhi Declaration has been approved by the Heads of Delegations
from Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan
and Srilanka.

The declaration recognises that access to sanitation and safe drinking
water as a basic right, and accords national priority to sanitation It
confirms commitment to achieving National and the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) on Sanitation in a time-bound manner in all
participating countries of South Asia.It also asserts that achieving
total and sustainable sanitation in all rural and urban communities in
the member countries is not only possible but also is a cherished goal
reiterated in SACOSAN-I at Dhaka (2003) and SACOSAN-II at Islamabad
(2006).

The declaration reiterates member’s commitment to the following key
principles and specific actions that need to be implemented at
household, local, sub-national and national levels to accelerate
performance and rapidly achieve sanitation goals:

Ensuring that the present and future generations enjoy a healthy
environment, with clean air, soil and fresh water resources; Achieving
sanitation for all will be an inclusive process, involving all
stakeholders at all stages, especially local governments, community
and grassroots groups; Sanitation will not be considered merely an
infrastructure or financing challenge, but one that requires effective
policy, institutional and fiscal incentives to change behaviour,
working in partnership with religious leaders, communities,
institutions (e.g. schools etc.), local governments and service
providers; and strengthening their capacities and accountability in
mobilizing, implementation and monitoring; Promote thinking of
sanitation as the full cycle of proper arrangements, safe conveyance
and sanitary disposal/re-use of liquid and solid wastes (including
solutions that do not adversely impact the quality of land and water
resources), and associated hygiene behaviour; A range of sanitation
provision and service options will be available to choose from. Basic
access to sanitation facilities will be ensured to all by reducing
disparities through appropriate budgetary policies, with active
participation, contribution, decision-making and ownership by
communities; Incentives and support will be provided for the poor and
people in vulnerable areas; The needs and concerns of women and most
vulnerable (e.g. infants, children especially girl-children, the
differently-abled, the elderly) will be addressed as a priority.
Innovative mechanisms e.g. micro-finance by Self Help Groups, will be
effectively promoted; Socially and economically disadvantaged
households will be mobilized to form groups; and supported to access
sanitation and other development programs; The special sanitation
needs of women (e.g. menstrual hygiene management) will be integrated
in planning, implementation, monitoring and measurement of program
outcomes. The key role of women in managing sanitation and hygiene in
community settings will be enhanced; Greater thrust will be placed on
promoting adequate sanitation in schools e.g. separate facilities for
boys and girls, supported by safe drinking water and with adequate
child-friendly facilities. Hygiene education will be incorporated into
the school curricula to promote good hygiene behaviour and upkeep of
facilities; Collaboration between countries will be strengthened to
develop capacities, sharing of best practices, and to promote
mechanisms for independent monitoring; Behaviour Change Communication
and information sharing will be effectively utilized for creating
demand for clean and healthy environment, and for promoting good
hygiene behaviour; in partnership with Media and using Information and
Communication Technologies; Sanitation and hygiene needs to be
integrated into health, education and other related policies, and
regulations effectively enforced; Technologies (e.g. which require
less water and/or no water) and the practice of “reuse and recycle” of
human wastes, and solid and liquid wastes (including conversion into
energy), will be promoted; Collaborations with the private sector
(including toilet associations and groups of sanitary goods and
service-providers) will be strengthened in developing sanitation
standards, technologies and products that are appropriate, affordable,
ecologically-friendly and easily accessible;For urban areas, an
integrated city-wide approach will be adopted to ensure the safe
management (including treatment and disposal) of human wastes, and all
other solid and liquid wastes (including medical, industrial and
commercial wastes, etc.);The urban poor, especially those in slum
settlements, will be facilitated and supported to obtain access to
safe sanitation as a part of the integrated city-wide sanitation
plans; and The critical role of personnel involved in sanitation work
will be recognized, and measures taken to raise their dignity.

The member countries have committed to achieve the national goals and
the Millennium Development Goals on Sanitation in a time-bound manner
during the ongoing International Year of Sanitation 2008 and took a
resolve for Continuing the advocacy and awareness to sustain the
momentum given to sanitation explicitly at the regional, national, sub-
national and local levels, in policy, budgetary allocation, human
resources, and implementation. They took vow for strengthening
community efforts and developing capacities of Local Governments, non-
governmental organizations, youth and community groups to work in
partnership for sustainable sanitation solutions. The action taking
include to Ensure occupational dignity, health, safety and improve the
profile and working conditions of personnel involved in sanitation
work and also to Prioritise sanitation as a development intervention
for health, dignity and security of all members of communities
especially infants, girl-children, women, the elderly and differently-
abled. Accordingly, efforts will be made for mainstream sanitation
across sectors, ministries/departments, institutions, domains
(private, household, schools, community, public), and socio-political
persuasions, so that sanitation is everybody’s concern and prioritised
in their respective programs (e.g. railways or tourism agencies
promoting access to sanitation facilities as a part of their
programs). They will also develop and implement approaches,
methodologies, technologies and systems for emergencies, and disaster
situations, and for areas, with special characteristics/ terrains or
groups suffering temporary displacement. In addition work to advocate
globally the recognition of climate change impacts on sanitation
provision in South Asia, and develop and implement strategies and
technologies that adapt to and mitigate impact and will enable
flexibility and variety in options and practical solutions to suit
local conditions, preferences, and resources.

An inter-country Working Group, led by country focal points, will meet
periodically to promote research and development, collaborations,
exchanges of innovations, experiences and expertise; networks among
intra-country groups and agencies will be created for sharing of
knowledge and the Indicative “South Asia Roadmap for Achieving
Sanitation Goals”) will be consulted by the participant countries to
develop their national Action Plans for implementation over the
2009-2011 period.

The declaration while expressing its gratitude towards the Government
of India and its people for the warm hospitality expressed hope that
momentum gained by the three SACOSANs will be further continued by the
hosting of the Fourth SACOSAN in Sri Lanka in 2010, and the fifth
SACOSAN in Nepal in 2012.

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