At the heart of accountability is restoring the balance between those who hold power in water and sanitation service provision and those who do not – it is a mechanism to combat this imbalance. #HRWASH2020

See friendly version of my report: tinyurl.com/t658e3d

So what is accountability?

In my report, I outline three dimensions of accountability: defining the roles of actors, ensuring that they engage in dialogues, and ensuring justice through enforceability.

See: tinyurl.com/t658e3d

Drawing a map of roles and responsibilities in water and sanitation service provision can be a complex task, not least because of the variety of actors involved. States, providers, NGOs, regulators: all these actors must be defined as part of ensuring accountability in provision.

Why defining responsibilities is important:
- Responsibility is often fragmented across ministries and across state levels
- When responsibilities are transferred without a transfer of resources, knowledge and capacity, human rights are threatened.

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Q: What are actors held accountable for?
A: providing water and sanitation services in line with the standards and principles of the human rights to water and sanitation.

See friendly version of my report on accountability: tinyurl.com/t658e3d

The second dimension of accountability: Answerability.
Q: How can an actor be answerable?
A: By providing explanations and justification for their actions or inactions, in a clear and understandable manner, to all persons they are accountable to.

#HRWASH2020

How to ensure answerability in water and sanitation provision?

1. Through monitoring and reporting
2. By empowering individuals to request answers and creating forums for discussion
3. By combating corruption

See my report: undocs.org/A/73/162
#HRWASH2020

Participation and access to information are not only core human rights principles, they are also central to ensuring answerability.

See my report: undocs.org/A/73/162
See friendly summary of the report: tinyurl.com/t658e3d

#HRWASH2020

Answerability goes both ways: Not only must individuals have access to information, they must also be able to make their voices heard, especially in cases of violations of their human rights. Complaint mechanisms must be in place to ensure this dialogue.

#HRWASH2020

The third dimension of accountability: enforceability.
To put it simply, without venues through which to ensure that violations are addressed and redressed, there can be no functioning accountability.

#HRWASH2020

Enforceability cannot be ensured without oversight.
This oversight must be on several layers: through formal regulators, NHRIs, but also through the media and social audits. No violations must be hidden or unreported.

#HRWASH2020 #mywatsanmyrights