Eight Asian states recognizes the right to sanitation

Heads of Delegations from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, including five Ministers, adopted on 21 st November at the Third South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-III), a Declaration  which states that :  

a) "Access to sanitation and safe drinking water is a basic right";  

b)" According national priority to sanitation is imperative"; 

c) "The special sanitation needs of women (e.g. menstrual hygiene management) will be integrated in planning, implementation, monitoring and measurement of program outcomes."; 

d) "Greater thrust will be placed on promoting adequate sanitation in schools e.g. separate facilities for boys and girls, supported by safe drinking water and with adequate child-friendly facilities." 

The Declaration also consider the needs of the poor and people in vulnerable areas.  It states that "Socially and economically disadvantaged households will supported to access sanitation"   and that " The urban poor, especially those in slum settlements, will be supported to obtain access to safe sanitation as a part of the integrated city-wide sanitation plans".