On this day, GWOPA commemorates the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s theme, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now”, reminds us that human rights affect everyone, every day, everywhere.
GWOPA supports water and sanitation utilities worldwide to champion human rights and today we join the international community in showcasing impact, successes and practical solutions. Recently, GWOPA convened the webinar "The Role of Water and sanitation utilities in Realizing the human rights to Water and Sanitation". This event explored how utilities worldwide are driving progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation.
“The recognition of human rights alone is not enough. The transformative power lies in how all relevant stakeholders, and especially water and sanitation utilities, enable and operationalize these commitments on the ground.” said Angela Mwai, the lead of the human rights and inclusion unit at UN-Habitat, while opening the session.
The UN Special Rapporteur, Prof. Pedro Arrojo Agudo, stressed that “States must give the budgetary priority that the human rights to water and sanitation deserve, strengthening municipal capacity and autonomy”.
Webinar speakers discussed what utilities can do to achieve the human rights to water and sanitation. Dr. Gabriela Cuadrado Quesada of IHE Delft encouraged utilities to start with a self-assessment.
Success stories were shared by utilities: Faustina Boachie, chief manager of the low-income customer support department at Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) talked about the revolving fund for social connections that is enabling safe water access in low-income communities. GWCL’s ambition is to fully integrate this model into national policy frameworks and to establish the revolving fund for social connections across all regions in Ghana, using internally generated funds.
Shirin Ara Begum illustrated how Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority DWASA) serves low-income communities in Bangladesh. She showed how DWASA was addressing all dimensions of the human rights to water (affordability, availability, accessibility, acceptability and, quality and safety) by applying a community-based organization model in low-income areas of the capital city.
Samara Lopez Ruiz presented her PhD research conducted at IHE Delft and the University of Granada, focusing on how Dutch water utilities manage disconnections for non-payment in the context of economic vulnerability. Exploring the ethical and social challenges this practice poses, she emphasized the critical need to safeguard vulnerable populations. Her research identified key strategies employed by utilities, including pre-emptive engagement and flexible payment plans, collaboration with municipalities, targeted assistance programs for vulnerable groups, community-based interventions and social tariffs, and human-centered debt collection methods.
"Good communication with municipalities is essential to avoid disconnections. When we work together effectively, we can often find solutions before it’s too late." Study interviewee
On Human Rights Day, GWOPA reaffirms its commitment to supporting water and sanitation operators to advance the human rights to water and sanitation, ensuring no one is left behind.
We can champion human rights only by working together.