UN expert on right to safe drinking water and sanitation to visit Botswana

GENEVA / GABORONE (4 November 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to water and sanitation Léo Heller will visit Botswana from 9 to 17 November 2015.

“I will look at policies and practices of water management and allocation as well as disparities in access to sanitation and water between urban and rural areas,” said Mr. Heller. “I will pay special attention to potentially marginalized groups of people in terms of access to water and sanitation,” he noted.

The human rights expert, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Botswana authorities, will meet with Government representatives, traditional leaders, communities, civil society and international organizations in Gaborone, Kasane, Maun, Shaikarawe, Ghanzi, Xade and New Xade.

At the end of his nine-day visit, Mr. Heller will share with the media the preliminary findings of his mission at a press conference on 17 November at 11:30 at the United Nations premises.

The Special Rapporteur will submit a comprehensive report to the 33 rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in September 2016, which will include his findings and recommendations to the Government of Botswana.

ENDS

Léo Heller is the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. He was appointed by the Human Rights Council in November 2014. Mr. Heller is currently a researcher in the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil. Learn more, log on to:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-water-and-sanitation

UN Human Rights, country page – Botswana:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/botswana

For more information and press inquiries, please contact:
Madoka Saji (+41 79 109 6870 / msaji@ohchr.org) or write to srwatsan@ohchr.org.

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