In its final declaration, the Third Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-III), which ended in New Delhi, India, on 21 November 2008, recognised access to sanitation and safe drinking water as a basic right. The Delhi Declaration, approved by the delegations from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, also accorded national priority to sanitation and confirmed the signatories' commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Reiterating the goals of total and sustainable sanitation formulated at the first two SACOSAN conferences, the declaration identified a number of key principles for action that need to be implemented to achieve those goals. These include ensuring that future generations can enjoy a healthy environment, involving all stakeholders at all stages of the process, and providing a range of sanitation services. It listed a number of actions and commitments to implement these principles, such as continued advocacy and awareness programmes and capacity building at all levels.

In the blog he wrote during the conference, WaterAid's regional programme officer for Asia Tom Burgess called the declaration 'unprecedented' and 'a major breakthrough'. But, as Isha Prasad Bhagwat, WaterAid's country representative in India, said: 'Now comes the task of translating the SACOSAN declaration into reality.'

Web site:SACOSAN - III ; WaterAid News blog - SACOSAN

Related news:

• South Asia: Asia Water Day highlights role of leaders in meeting WASH challenges, Source South Asia, 02 Sep 2008;
• South Asia: 778 million still practice open defecation, safe water use has improved, says new report, Source South Asia, 18 July 2008

Source: Ministry of Rural Development / PIB, 21 Nov 2008 ; WaterAid, 24 Nov 2008

Tags: advocacy, capacity development, policies & legislation, sanitation, south asia