A/HRC/42/47/Add.5
of water and sanitation. This includes eleven water supply projects and three wastewater
projects which are currently ongoing at different stages of implementation. In addition some
water and sanitation projects are financed through the National Development Plan.”
46.
The Special Rapporteur regards it as positive that funds have been allocated for the
refurbishment, rehabilitation and development of the infrastructure of water and sanitation.
However, plans of the maintenance and operation were not shared and he unfortunately did
not receive any concrete information about human resources to be invested in maintenance
and operation either. The Special Rapporteur reaffirms that human resource investment is
vital to the achievement of proper maintenance and operation of water and sanitation
infrastructure, and is therefore essential to ensuring sustainability in line with the normative
content of the rights to water and sanitation.
PROGRESS ON-GOING: The Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government
continue to invest the maximum of its available resources into refurbishing,
rehabilitating and developing water and sanitation infrastructure. He reaffirms that
budgeting must include adequate human resource investment and invites the
Government to make public information regarding the level of human resources
investment it has made in these sectors to date.
G.
Recommendation on public institutions
RECOMMENDATION 12: “Improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene in schools, in
particular install menstrual hygiene management systems in all schools, as well as in health
centres.” (A/HRC/33/49/Add.3, para. 72(p))
47.
In the Special Rapporteur’s country report, it was noted that there was a lack of
adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in both schools and health centres in
Botswana. In particular, few accommodations had been made for women and girls by
providing facilities to allow them to safely and hygienically manage their menstrual cycles.
(A/HRC/33/49/Add.3, para. 52)
48.
According to the Joint Monitoring Programme of UNICEF and WHO, as of December
2015 only limited water and sanitation facilities existed within both primary and secondary
schools in Botswana, meaning that drinking water comes from an improved source, however
it is unavailable, and either “flush/pour flush toilets, ventilated improved pit latrines,
composting toilets [or] pit latrines with a slab or platform” are present, but these are unusable
or not single-sex. No data was available regarding the quality of sanitation facilities present
in schools. Equally, according to Alliance Defending Freedom International, the availability
of water and sanitation in healthcare facilities in the country is of significant concern, with it
being noted that this was a contributory factor in the high maternal death rate
(A/HRC/WG.6/29/BWA/3, para. 35).
49.
Following the presentation of the visit report, the Government responded accepting
the recommendation to provide facilities to promote menstrual hygiene in all schools and
health centres. In its response to the Special Rapporteur’s follow-up questionnaire the
Government contended that most schools in the country had water infrastructure, including
emergency reservoirs to ensure availability in droughts. It further stated that the majority of
schools now have disposal facilities for sanitary products, either by way of storage bins or
pit latrines.
50.
The Special Rapporteur is pleased to note that the Government has acknowledged the
importance of ensuring women and girls are able to access facilities for the management of
menstruation in school. Having places for the disposal of sanitary products will assist women
and girls to access education and can reduce the negative health impacts associated with
inadequate menstrual hygiene caused by lack access to proper facilities. No information has
been provided regarding the improvement of menstrual hygiene facilities in health centres,
however, and the Special Rapporteur reminds the Government that provision of these
facilities in hospitals and clinics is equally important. The Special Rapporteur is also pleased
that the availability of water in schools has improved, and that efforts have been taken to
ensure that water remains available in schools, even in cases of drought. However, it is clear
12
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