FANSA and SACOSAN

FANSA TAKE LEAD IN INFLUENCING SACOSAN OUTCOMES

Civil society pre-meeting on SACOSAN

16-17 November 2008

The 3rd SACOSAN was held from 18th -21st November 2008 in New Delhi, India. 

Grassroots organisations called on governments for urgent action at the conference as a million children have died from entirely preventable diarrhoeal diseases since the last SACOSAN in 2006.

FANSA, WSSCC and WaterAid conducted an inclusive and consultative process at national and regional level to identify the gaps and challenges that are stopping the sanitation related MDG targets from being met.

National level analysis papers fed in to a two day pre-meeting, held prior to the conference and attended by community leaders and NGOs from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to discuss and reach agreements on SACOSAN 3 issues, including a progress review against commitments made in the last two SACOSAN declarations. 

The meeting concluded with a civil society declaration endorsed by all participants.

READ THE CIVIL SOCIETY DECLARATION

Many participants who attended the pre-meeting used the declaration to lobby their ministers within the official conference and Joe Madiath of Gram Vikas read out the declaration in a parallel session.

Indian PM Dr Manmohan Singh opened the official Conference with the statement that good sanitation should be the birthright of every citizen in South Asia.

Read Manmohan Singh's opening speech

The final declaration (known as The Delhi Declaration) recognises access to sanitation and safe drinking water as a basic right. It also asserts that giving “national priority to sanitation is imperative”. Significantly, the declaration commits members states (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) to strengthen regional collaboration and promote independent monitoring.

Read the Delhi Declaration

Civil Society Groups in South Asia to Tell Sanitation Ministers: "Hurry Up! Billions Want to Use the Toilet"

Candlelit vigil held at SACOSAN CSO pre-meet
The CSO meeting included a silent candlelit vigil held as a mark of respect and solidarity for the millions of children who are needlessly losing their lives across the region.

                                                                           
Background to SACOSAN

SACOSAN is largely government led, with many government delegations run by high level decision makers. SACOSAN brings together key government officials, donors, NGOs and the media. Debates are having some impact on national policy and practice with governments making commitments through a signed declaration. As such, it provides a good opportunity for national and regional level lobbying.

The space for civil society voice in SACOSAN has been changing as the process evolves. At SACOSAN 1 a session for grassroots people to share their experiences, chaired by a Minister, was included in the formal programme and a civil society representative was invited to give an address in the inaugural session. Civil society groups, under the banner of the WSSCC Bangladesh chapter were involved in organising the conference and many NGOs participated in the conference. At SACOSAN 2 there was no session for grassroots voices and fewer NGOs participated.

                                                                           
Participation in Second South Asian Conference on Sanitation

FAN sponsored the Village Education Resource Centre (VERC) Bangladesh to attend and share experiences gained through implementation of its people-initiated 100% sanitation approach. The attendance of many government ministers was a sign of increasing political will behind the issues.

VERC's impression of SACOSAN

 “There is a sanitation crisis in South Asia. There is human suffering on an unprecedented scale. Business as usual by our governments is not an option.”

Joe Madiath

Kollywood actress attends silent vigil at CSO pre-meet
Kollywood actress attends silent vigil at CSO pre-meet