LatinoSan 2007

LatinoSan: The regional sanitation conference at ministerial level
Given the critical situation of sanitation in Latin America and in the context of the International Year of Sanitation set by the UN General Assembly to help accelerate progress on sanitation, LatinoSan 2007 seeks to contribute to:

1. People’s well-being, dignity, and health in Latin America by focusing on the poorest segments of the population, and especially children, who have lagged behind the right of accessing proper water and sanitation facilities.income communities.
2. Efforts to preserve and protect the environment and the natural water resources.
3. Conflict resolution as a result of economic and social growth by improving the quality of life of low-

Specific Objectives are the following:

• Raising awareness and commitment among all stakeholders to position sanitation as a priority in the national and regional agendas.
• Presenting advances and challenges in the MDG pursuit by countries.
• Sharing experiences and lessons learned that will allow national and local governments to take action towards reviewing, developing, and implementing sanitation programs, projects, and policies.
• Promoting the demand for sustainable sanitation solutions under the premise of working together, institutions and communities.
• Adapting recommendations into a Ministerial Declaration and specific national action plans.

The ministerial roundtable will be comprised of ministers, high level sector authorities, as well as municipal authorities from the main Latin American cities. A declaration will be elaborated and discussed by the ministers and fine-tuned with the participation of all stakeholders as a result of the conference's final open session.

Thematic Seminars
The simultaneous thematic seminars will be dedicated to the following aspects:

1. Sanitation and Hygiene Education and excreta disposal
2. Domestic waste water management and solid waste recycling
3. Basic and Environmental Sanitation
4. Prevention and control of water resources' contamination

Dialogue platforms, media program and other activities
Dialogue platforms are organized around the following issues:

• Recently elected municipal mayors and governors in Colombia
• Caribbean countries
• Impact of internal and external migration
• Transparency, Corruption, and Accountability
• Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Experience ex-change among community leaders

A mass media program especially designed for local and regional press will cover specific information needs of journalists and allow interaction with authorities and international experts. Also a field visit is being arranged along with media briefings.

Simultaneous activities will be comprised of poster and material exhibitions, video contest, bilateral meetings, cultural events, and field visits’ options.

Conference contacts
Edgar Quiroga at edgarqui@univalle.edu.co
Johnny Rojas at agua2007@univalle.edu.co

Go to the website

- Location:

Cali, Colombia

- Date:

12 Nov 07 - 16 Nov 07