| 11 Mars 2012
The Butterfly Effect activities at the 6th World Water Forum
The Butterfly Effect is a coalition of international NGOs, which advocates effective local solutions that have a sustainable impact on water and sanitation. Made up of over 90 civil society organisations, NGOs, networks and womens’ organisations, we are an open movement that’s growing fast.
We are staging three important media opportunities during the 6th World Water Forum 6 in Marseille:
- Press Conference: Launch of the Butterfly Effect Messages Diverse and inspiring representatives from all over the world will share our key calls for decision-makers and tell you how we have the solutions to address the issues. 15.00 on 12 March at the Butterfly Effect Exhibition Space, Hall 3 stand 3.124
- Photo Opportunity: The World Walks for Water. Immediately after the press conference, our members will stage our very own walk for water. The World Walks for Water and Sanitation is a global event demanding action to address the world’s largest crisis. This is an excellent photo opportunity for the press. http://www.worldwalksforwater.org/eng/
Butterfly Effect official sessions:
- Session 1: Solutions from civil society: Inspiring change through a human rights based approach; BE members will encourage discussion on how human rights standards and principles are contributing to equitable and sustainable solutions on the ground. Tuesday, 13 March, 11-13 pm, Venue: PC 8 - Callelongue, Palais des Congrès
- Session 2: Occupy the 6th World Water Forum: Building inclusive human rights-based water and sanitation governance and management from the bottom-up!Thursday, 15 March, 11-13 pm, Venue: PC 8 - Callelongue, Palais des Congrès
Some 900 million people have no access to safe drinking water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. The Butterfly Effect is advocating effective local solutions that have a sustainable impact on access to water and sanitation in developing countries worldwide.
We have identified several key issues that urgently need to be addressed in order to effectively and progressively realize the human right to water and sanitation for all.
Our solutions are based on human rights principles and communities’ experience, and relate to policies, projects, information campaigns and empowering stakeholders. Crucially, these solutions are local, sustainable, adaptable, innovative, equitable, accountable and people-orientated.
We invite you to come and hear our messages. We will inspire you and demonstrate how civil society holds constructive solutions on how to tackle key challenges related to water and sanitation.
Interviews with spokespeople available on request. Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. , Muriel Benarroche, +33 (0) 6 12 42 61 93, Paul Garwood Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. , mobile +41797760454
Find out about all the sessions organised by members, ongoing updates, photographs and videos: http://butterflyeffectwwf.blogspot.com
For more information, please see below messages on the Butterfly Effect. These are under embargo until Monday 12 March 2012.
Butterfly Effect NGO coalition:Our messages for the 6th World Water Forum
The Butterfly Effect is a coalition of international NGOs, which advocates effective local solutions that have a sustainable impact on water and sanitation. We have consulted with NGOs for over a year, bringing our experience and expertise together with a common set of messages for government delegates at the 6th World Water Forum, March 2012.
Made up of over 90 civil society organisations, NGOs, networks and womens’ organisations, we are an open movement that’s growing fast. Our solutions are based on human rights principles, communities’ experience, and relate to policies, projects, information campaigns and empowering stakeholders. Crucially, these solutions are local, sustainable, adaptable, innovative, equitable, accountable and people-orientated.
We have identified several key water management issues that need addressing if the number of people with access to safe water and adequate sanitation and hygiene services is to increase. As such, we are committed to working on these issues by using evidence-based models and innovation, integrating both traditional knowledge and demonstration of best practices.
In order to effectively address these issues, we urge governments and (where appropriate) other stakeholders to:
- Commit to implementing this human right quickly, by all appropriate means. Accelerating the process will help overcome the water crisis at all levels. Develop human rights based national roadmaps (national action plans) for the implementation of the human rights to water and sanitation by 2015
- Integrate specifically the equity, participation and accountability dimensions of a human rights-based approach in water governance
- Commit to dependable finance, which have been earmarked for water and sanitation services for the poor (namely where fiscal and grant financing takes precedence over loan financing)
- Increase access to water and sustainable sanitation services to fulfill the human right criteria (quantity, quality, affordability, accessibility, and acceptability) and MDG goals
- Engage with civil society and community organisations to create a needs-based capacity building program that empowers organisations and stakeholders to fulfill their roles in water management
- Ratify and domesticate the UN Watercourses Convention, thus promoting basic rules for cooperation and sustainable and equitable use of international watercourses shared between States
- Empower local communities and relevant institutions at the lowest relevant level to plan and manage water and related natural resources through scaling-up and enhancing valuable community-based mitigation and adaptation strategies and programme
- Recognise the value of local knowledge and ensure local voices are taken into account in policies and their implementation at all levels
- Support the appropriation and application of the Hyōgo framework for action by all States facing chronic crisis
