From Lizette Burgers, UNICEF, New Delhi
Posted 20 October 2008

The South Asia Conferences on Sanitation (SACOSAN) are high-powered regional ministerial conferences that discuss sanitation. They help develop a regional agenda on sanitation, enable learning from experiences and plans for the future. The objectives are to accelerate sanitation and hygiene coverage, and enhance peoples’ quality of life in keeping with the Millennium Development Goals and the commitments made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 1992. Till date, two conferences have been held at Bangladesh (2003) and Pakistan (2006).

The third is being organized in New Delhi on 16-21 November 2008, by the Department of Drinking Water Supply, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India (http://ddws.gov.in/infosacosan/Home.aspx). The overarching theme of the Conference is “Sanitation for Dignity and Health”, and the sub-themes of the conference are:
(i) Sanitation and Sustainability
(ii) Sanitation and Development
(iii) Sanitation Beyond Toilets
(iv) Institutions and Partnerships for Sanitation

Members can view the declarations from the Islamabad SACOSAN II at http://ddws.gov.in/infosacosan/Islamabad_Declaration%202006.pdf and the Dhaka SACOCAN I at http://ddws.gov.in/infosacosan/Dhaka_%20Declaration2003.pdf.

The Department is in the process of drafting the Declaration for SACOSAN III and invites Community members’ inputs that will be acknowledged while formalizing the final Declaration. Members are requested to cover the challenges of sanitation and mechanisms/commitments to address them in their suggestions.

Please see attachment below for the responses.