Legislators empowered to deliver better hygiene an...

Legislators empowered to deliver better hygiene and sanitation for the people

Audrey Galawu

The Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) on Thursday October 20, 2022 launched an international handbook for Parliaments and parliamentarians titled "Water and Sanitation: Realising Human Rights and Achieving Sustainable Development.

"Parliamentarians should normalise debates on issues to do with water and sanitation, consult them on budget formulation and location," said SWA steering committee Vice Chairperson Ms Sareen Malik during the launch.

Ms Malik said parliamentarians are the frontline and the most powerful oversight tool that can help monitor and evaluate the implementation of laws and policies.

The handbook also challenges parliamentarians to identify and disallow discriminatory and unequal practices and processes that prevent people from accessing water and sanitation, undermining realisation of the human rights.

"Parliamentarians have enormous power to shape and improve state obligations and fulfill the right to water and sanitation.

"They should take time to listen and articulate concerns of people they represent, include water, sanitation and hygiene in party manifestos and raise awareness among relevant government agencies," read the handbook.

SWA Steering Committee Member for Eastern and Southern Africa Mr Lovemore Dhoba said the handbook offers parliamentarians both information and inspiration, to help them deliver on their responsibilities to ensure effective water and sanitation services for the communities they represent.

According to SWA, nearly half of the world’s population uses sanitation services that leave human waste untreated.

The handbook explores ways in which parliamentarians can draw attention to the importance of water and sanitation.

There is need for strong and accountable parliamentarians as climate change continue to place pressure on water and sanitation services.

Poor sanitation devastates public health, as well as the environment and social and economic development. In 2020, around one in four (or two billion) people lacked good quality, safely managed drinking water in their homes, and 767 million were without access to even basic water services.