At the 63rd UN Human Rights Council the side event ‘Turning the Spotlight on the Right to Sanitation’ called for sanitation to be treated as a distinct human right. Held on 16 September 2026, this event was co-organized by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to water and sanitation, Germany, Spain, the International Dalit Solidarity Network and ONGAWA, with the support of the Geneva Environment Network and featured Dalit human rights defender, Manjula Pradeep, on the panel.

The side event was opened by UN Special Rapporteur Pedro Arrojo Agudo, who emphasized states’ responsibility to provide sanitation, recognize menstrual health, address toxic pollution and strengthen community-led systems. Rick Johnston of WHO highlighted major global progress in reducing open defecation while underscoring persistent inequalities, especially for rural communities and women.

In a powerful statement, Dalit human rights defender, Manjula Pradeep, stressed that caste and gender discrimination must be accounted for. Sanitation must include the safety, dignity and rights of those expected to clean others’ waste.

“Sanitation cannot be called dignified if it depends upon another person’s indignity.” Manjula Pradeep

Manjula Pradeeep speaking event

Ms Pradeep went on to highlight the risks faced by Dalit women engaged in hazardous sanitation work in India. She urged governments to end manual scavenging in practice not just in law, ensure safe working conditions and alternative livelihoods and include sanitation workers and Dalit women as leaders in policy-making.

Bethany Carney Almroth, UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, warned that hazardous chemicals persist through wastewater systems, placing workers and nearby communities at risk. The Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain, Clara Cabrera, called for menstrual health and gender-responsive financing to be embedded in water and sanitation policies.

The event reinforced that progress cannot be measured by toilet construction alone: sanitation systems must protect everyone’s health, dignity and equality.

Watch Turning the Spotlight on the Right to Sanitation in full here.