WASH-NET present CSO’S position paper to Constitutional Review Committee by Komba Fillie

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Network in Sierra Leone (WASH-Net); an umbrella civil society advocacy platform in collaboration with WASH Media Network Sierra Leone backed by WaterAid Trans boundary Programme on Tuesday 25th August 2015 officially Presented a Civil Society position on WASH as Human Rights to the Sub-committee of State Policy, Citizenry and Human Rights in the ongoing constitutional review process, at the Miatta Conference room Brookfield in Freetown. (Photo: WASH-Net Chair submitting CSO Position to the CRC Sub-Group Chairperson)

The Constitutional Review process being a golden roadmap towards building a new Sierra Leone, the essence of the presentation was to add critical voices to the ongoing constitutional review process and to highlight the critical need for water and sanitation access among other essential services in the new constitution under the fundamental rights provision that guarantees citizens’ rights to safe drinking water, improve sanitation and good hygiene services.

Being a representative voice of CSOs in the WASH sector of Sierra Leone, the position paper stated that every person shall have the right to accessible and affordable basic social services including safe drinking water; improve sanitation; health care; primary education, food, and other essential services. “The government shall take action to progressively realize these rights taking special measures to ensure vulnerable groups (women, children, disabled and the ageing) enjoy these rights”.

Presenting the position paper on behalf of CSO’S in nationwide, the Executive Chairman of WASH-Net, Musa Ansumana Soko underscored the importance of the presentation as not only an opportunity to articulate the aspirations of Sierra Leoneans in need of access to WASH services, but rather an chance to save the wider citizenry from preventable illnesses that has to do with water and sanitation. The Mr. Soko further reminded the Constitutional Review Committee that government has committed to a number of global, regional and national frameworks to improve the lives of citizens which he said is yet to meet the growing challenges which citizens especially women and their children are faced with on a regular basis. He noted that the issue of Water as human right was declared in 2010 by the United Nations and its member states; base on this pronouncement several African countries have included WASH as basic human right in their constitutions.

He pointed out that base on the development; CSOs in the country have being working closely with government and other key stakeholders for effective WASH service delivery in the country. Musa Ansumana Soko further said as partners in national development, WASH-Net, Media and other CSOs have seen the urgent need to engage the Committee to present a document which showcase the a comprehensive position on WASH. He appealed to the CRC Sub-Committee to factor their request into ongoing constitution as citizen’s right. He thanked members of the committee for honoring their request especially CRC Committee members.

He pleaded with the CRC to include water into the constitution as a human right, giving example of countries like Liberia, The Gambia and Nigeria amongst others have included water as human right into their constitutions. He also called for full commitment of government through the CRC to provide the citizens of Sierra Leone the rights to WASH services and to allow citizens to hold their government accountable.

Receiving the position paper, the Chairperson of the subcommittee of State Policy, Citizenry and Human Rights, Mrs. Olatungie Campbell paid special thanks to WASH-Net and other members for what she described as very important in to the CRC process. In her position as Chairperson, she expressed the felt need of especially women and their children who are often denied access to these basic and essential services.

Therefore she said, the delivery of the CSO position statement is not only a step in the right direction, but also one of distinct nature among other positions the Committee has received so far. As a show of the CRC’s responsiveness and recognition of citizen’s rights to these basic and essential services, the Chairperson clearly pointed out that the issue of water and sanitation has been included in the first draft of the Constitution as human right, which she said will come out shortly. She further mentioned that other priority rights like right to good housing and adequate sanitation are also included.

In her final statement she assured WASH-Net, WASH Media, WaterAid and all present that the Committee will do all in their best to work in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone.

She said most of the issues highlighted in the paper are very paramount and that most of it was factored before the presentation but more attention will also be paid in further harmonization work.

In his statement, WaterAid’s Transboundary (Sierra Leone and Liberia) Team Leader, Chuchu Selma added his voice that the move is a timely one, expressing profound appreciation to the CRC for offering to meet with the WASH-Net team for a position submission. “as part of our Global Strategy as WaterAid, we intend to reach everyone everywhere with access to basic WASH services by 2030 which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals”. Mr. Selma further pointed out that the needless death of babies before their fifth birthday but be a priority for government and with the series of international processes going on with the SDGs, Sierra Leone must leverage such opportunities in positioning her readiness to improve the lives of citizens. He noted that issue of Sierra Leone in terms of water is still behind in meeting the MDGs targets, whereas sanitation is left behind to be discuss at international level which determine its sustainability. He furthered that as development partners they are providing support to government through their local partners in promoting WASH in the country.

In his contribution, Dr. Johannes Bassie, an Executive Member of WASH-Net, pleaded to the committee on the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene in the country. He called for it to be included in the constitution as human right.

UNDP Chief Technical Adviser to CRC process, Sana Baloch said his role is to give technical advice to the CRC on the constitutional review process and he will ensure the needed support is ensured. He said water is very important to life and is considered as a human right.

He assured WASH-Net and team that their request to the committee will be included as pointed out by the sub-committee chair.

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