A/HRC/18/33 I. Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation submits the present report in accordance with Human Rights Council resolutions 7/22 and 16/2. In the report, she focuses on national and local planning for the implementation of the rights to water and to sanitation. 2. Having a vision and the corresponding political will to transform that vision into reality are fundamental first steps to the realization of the rights to water and to sanitation. As the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) observed in the Human Development Report 2006 on water: “The obvious starting point for a drive towards universal access to water and sanitation is political will, broadly defined as the resolve to put the issue at the centre of the national agenda.”1 The preparation and adoption of actionable strategies and plans is a manifestation of that vision and can set out how a State intends to realize the rights to water and to sanitation. 3. The Special Rapporteur engaged in a wide consultative process, including two multi-stakeholder expert consultations where participants discussed the different phases of planning and how human rights can strengthen that process, as well as questions of financing.2 The Special Rapporteur also received numerous written contributions. The indepth discussions and varied perspectives have provided her with valuable guidance in preparing the present report and she is grateful to all those who contributed with their time and expertise. Several of the examples cited in this report were obtained through this consultative process.3 II. Setting the scene A. Why planning matters 4. The Special Rapporteur advocates for planning that goes beyond superficial statements of intent to specific commitments backed by necessary political support, strong institutions, and human and financial resources. Too often, plans of action are narrowly understood as a piece of paper, rather than a process towards better protection of human rights. If understood as a process, good planning can have transformative impacts for the water and sanitation sectors as well as for the enjoyment of these rights. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur explores various facets of successful planning exercises. 5. Planning processes in line with human rights contributes to ensuring a coherent approach that accords sufficient priority to water and sanitation, helps to ensure more sustainable results, and strengthens accountability. A clearly articulated vision has the advantage of serving as a firm foundation for prioritizing funding to the sector, both within the domestic budget as well as through international assistance. This vision can inspire confidence that funds can be absorbed and spent in line with the stated goals. 1 2 3 UNDP, Human Development Report 2006: Beyond Scarcity - Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis (New York, 2006), p. 61. The second consultation was held in Lisbon, organized by the Centre For Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University. The Special Rapporteur relied on examples as described to her by relevant stakeholders; however, replication or endorsement of such practices would require further verification. 3