The Equitable Access Score-card: Supporting policy processes to achieve the human right to water and sanitation
Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a human right that is part of the right to adequate standard of living, enshrined in article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It has been explicitly recognised by the General Assembly of the United Nations and by the United Nations Human Rights Council. States are therefore legally bound to ensure access to water and sanitation for all and have to take steps toward the full realisation of the right. To comply with this obligation, they need to ensure that access to water and sanitation is equitable for all members of the population.
The publication points out that the strong linkages between the provision of water-supply and sanitation services demands a holistic approach. Its overall message is that we have at our disposal the policy tools and the experience in using them to ensure that we can make strong advances towards universal access to water and sanitation.
Presenting policy options and good practices, the publication identifies three key challenges in relation to equitable access:
- Reduce geographical differences in the services provided
- Prevent discrimination or exclusion in access to services by vulnerable and marginalized groups
- Ensure financial affordability by users.
The current document presents an analytical tool that can help Governments and other stakeholders to establish a baseline, discuss further actions to be taken, and evaluate progress through a process of self-assessment. It also offers guidance on how to use the analytical tool, based on the experience of three pilot exercises carried out in France, Portugal and Ukraine.
