Figure 1. Emelina Ipuana (Wayúu), CEO Amanda Loeffen (HR2W), Maria Paula Ordoñez Charry (WaterAid Colombia)
After nine months of development, we are thrilled to present our collaborative publications with the development banks, African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), including the Water Research Commission (WRC). These three best practice documents highlight countries and projects that are using the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to support the human rights to water, sanitation and a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Our aim was to demonstrate how the HRBA in legislation can be demonstrated in practice using water and sanitation projects from the regional banks and WRC as examples.
On Sunday, 25th of August, we launched these three publications at World Water Week in Stockholm, on Water Policies to Support Investment in Humans and Nature, one for each region: Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific. Moderated by Amanda Loeffen, we used this event to showcase the benefits of using the HRBA in the policy-making process.
Figure 2. Emelina Ipuana representative from the Wayúu people from Colombia
Emelina Ipuana from the Wayúu people of Colombia, started the session by telling the story of how they are using puppets to teach children about the importance of clean and hygienic water and sanitation in schools. Emelina used puppets to illustrate three different ways in which the HRBA can be used to encourage children to learn about inclusive access. In the three journeys, Emelina introduces us to the three “guardians of life” that their community uses to teach children the importance of 1) taking care of water, 2) hygiene and hand-washing, and 3) the use of toilets to mitigate open defecation effects. Her presentation was a great example of the way that creative story-telling can help to introduce new concepts to traditional ways of life.
This inspiring story was then followed by the launch of the regional publications with an introduction from the three development banks. Satoshi Ishii (ADB), Tomas Serebrisky (IDB), and Benson Bumbe (AfDB) gave valuable views on the approach that is taken in their respective banks, and the importance that they give to the human rights-based approach . This is evidenced in more detail through the projects highlighted in the three regional publications here.
The session then revolved around case studies from each region to highlight the importance of the HRBA for guaranteeing the human rights to water and sanitation. Maria Paula Ordoñez Charry from WaterAid Colombia presented an inspiring case study on the Wayúu people and how they have been inspired by indigenous traditions and culture to encourage people to adopt improvements in sanitation solutions through the way that the facilities are painted.
Figure 3. Case Study from Colombia
Tanya Huizer’s (ADB) presentation included case studies from the Asia and Pacific publication, ‘Paving the inclusive path towards water for all‘. She emphasised how ADB would like the publication to guide other policymakers and states to take these examples of good practices and implement them into their legislations. She presented community and gender-inclusive policies in the water supply and sanitation sector for rural communities in Cambodia, Vietnam and Lao PDR with personal stories to show how the lives of women and children in particular have improved as a result of meaningful engagement with the communities.
AfDB presented their experience in the African Region with a short video from Ethiopia as an introduction. Benson Bumbe explained how the engagement of stakeholders and community participation has markedly improved the inclusivity of water and sanitation projects.
The session was closed with a presentation from Jennifer Molwantwa, CEO of South Africa’s Water Research Commission. She told a story about a local community that had managed to live without any WASH infrastructure and the HRBA engagement process that they followed with them. The sustainable project was able to move forward with their support. In South Africa they also have a leading wetlands programme, Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area, that is an example of the Working for Wetlands Initiative, and an example of the sustainable engagement for the environmental protection of water resources, and the level of community engagement required to make it happen.
Throughout the session a talented visual artist, Norbert Vermeer, summarised the session, capturing its essence through visuals and key quotes.
