They Have No Choice But To Perform This Vital Function Publicly.

For most of us, going to the toilet is a simple matter. We feel the urge. We get up and go to the nearest toilet and we use it. In much of the world, though, this is far from reality. In India, it’s impossible for more than half a billion—over half the population!— especially poor women and girls. They have no choice but to perform this vital function publicly. Read more at: http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2013-02-15/heeals/

Making Progress on Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Challenges

The CSIS project on Global water Policy presented recommendations and conclusions in a report entitled, “Making Progress on Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Challenges,” on March 21, 2011. Sessions at the forum focused on the role of the private sector in water supply; achieving operational sustainability; the relevance of climate change adaptation programs for the WASH sector; and how to promote transparency and accountability within WASH programs. The report highlights the importance of community engagement, private sector involvement, and a commitment to the monitoring and evaluation of projects as critical factors in promoting WASH program sustainability.The report is available at:http://csis.org/files/publication/110810_Bliss_ProgressOnWASH_Web.pdf

International Waters: Review of Legal and Institutional Frameworks

This article provides legal and institutional frameworks that apply to twenty-eight (28) international water bodies that were identified as part of the United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) 'Good Practices and Portfolio Learning in GEF Transboundary Freshwater and Marine Legal and Institutional Frameworks' project. Following the introduction, part II of this report identifies and explains the eighteen criteria that are used to describe the legal and institutional frameworks of each of the water bodies discussed in this report. Part III of this report provides a detailed discussion of the legal and institutional frameworks for each water body identified, organized by global region.

Available at: http://zunia.org/uploads/media/knowledge/IW_Review_of_Legal_Instl_Frameworks_Project_Report1303633425.pdf

Information Sheet on Water and sanitation

Despite significant progress made over recent decades, more than 125 million children under the age of five live in households without access to a safe water supply and more than 280 million children in the same age group live in households without access to safe sanitation facilities. Poor people and people living in rural areas are the least likely to have access to improved water and sanitation facilities. Access this article at:http://www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Publications/watsan10.pdf

Rights to water and sanitation - a handbook for activists

This handbook aims to strengthen human rights-based advocacy by providing innovative and practical suggestions that civil society and those working on water and sanitation issues can adopt so that they can improve water and sanitation service regulation and provision at international, national, and local levels. it is directed primarily at community groups, human rights NGOs, rights-based development practitioners and aid workers. For a more detailed account visit: http://www.wsscc.org/sites/default/files/publications/fansa_humanrightsactivisthandbook_2010.pdf