Human Right 2 Water – Webinar: Emergency responses linking Corona pandemics (COVID 19) and human rights to water and sanitation, 3 June, 2020, 14:00 CET

The implications of COVID 19 are terrible for everyone, but especially difficult for the poorer sections of society that might not have access to clean running water for drinking and hand washing, and to facilities for general hygiene.  National emergency plans often overlook the more vulnerable members of society even in western states, and there needs to be an imperative to improve conditions for these people immediately, for their own sakes, and to control infection rates. 

For example, only 53% of schools in the developing world have access to clean water for hygiene and only 66% have access to basic toilets. Conditions for people that are incapacitated due to age, infirmities, or health conditions are not respected and protected in the way that they should. Nomadic, migrant or refugee populations are severely limited in terms of social distancing and abilities to contain infection. Indigenous, or marginalised rural communities, people living in slums, and the more impoverished sectors of society often live without clean and safe water and sanitation. 

Guidance for governments on how to prioritise access to WASH for vulnerable groups is going to be critical in the struggle during a coronavirus pandemic. It needs to be clear, concise, and easy to implement.  It also needs to be available quickly and accessible to all.

Human Right 2 Water is a Swiss Association supported by the research and development initiated by WaterLex over the last 10 years. It is a web-based structure representing global experts in human right to water and sanitation. Its mission is to integrate human rights to water and sanitation into law and policy to realise safe and sustainable access to water and sanitation for all people, including the most vulnerable and marginalised. The Board includes experts in human rights, water and sanitation research, policy, utilities and gender experts from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe.

This webinar brings together a selection of experts from the Board of Human Right 2 Water with leaders from the human rights sector to give their opinion and to discuss opportunities for emergency response solutions. To access the webinar, go to http://humanright2water.org/launch-event-webinar/