OMBUDSMAN OFFICE - PERU

IVAN LANEGRAADJUNCT OMBUDSMAN FOR ENVIRONMENT,

PUBLIC SERVICES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

IMPLEMENTING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION

ACCOUNTABILITY, THE CASE OF PERU

PERU

(*) Census 2007

Population:28.2 million (*)

Water coverage: 67.5%Sewerage coverage: 54.2%Wastewater treatment: 23%

Rural population:29 % (**)

Water coverage: 62%Sewerage coverage: 30%

(**) As of 2004. Water and Sanitation National Plan 2006 – 2015, Household, Construction, Water

and Sanitation Ministry

Urban population:71% (**)

Water coverage: 81%Sewerage coverage: 68%

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE OF PERU

The Ombudsman is appointed by the Congress for 5 years

Functions:

- To defend fundamental human rights- To supervise public administration functions execution- To supervise public services provision

Human rights to public services, and to water and sanitation in particular, contribute to fulfill fundamental human rights like those to life and health

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE OF PERU

IMPLEMENTING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION

In order to fulfill her or his functions, the Ombudsman makes recommendations which afterwards are followed up. These recommendations have no binding effects and the Ombudsman has no other enforcement instruments than persuasion and insistence, usually exercised through direct written communications, meetings, workshops, publications, or through the media

One of the main tools used for delivering recommendations to the State is the Ombudsman Policy Report (Informe Defensorial). There have been 140 reports since 1997

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE OF PERU

IMPLEMENTING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION

Ombudsman Policy Report:

- Refers to problems that affect a significant part of the population with respect to any of the fields in which the Ombudsman is competent- Is a key source of information in the diagnose of problems in specific sectors and for the design of public policies to solve them- Is addressed to public utilities and all government actors involved, including the National Parliament if it is the case.- Is of public domain

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE OF PERU

IMPLEMENTING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION

In 2005 the Ombudsman issued a policy report on water and sanitation (sewerage) services mainly in urban areas. In 2007 a second report was published referred to theses services in rural areas. Some of the main recommendations contained in the reports are:

- To focus crossed subsidies between households so that the former benefit mainly those people who really need it

- To formulate a long term plan according to the Millennium Goals related to water and sanitation services.

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE OF PERU

IMPLEMENTING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION

- To extend board members term in public water utilities, in order to contribute to policies and management continuity

-To simplify water tariffs determination procedures.

- To modify the legal framework so that more population receives a regulated water and sanitation service

- To specify more in detail the competencies of water and sanitation services providers that are not water utilities (community associations specially in rural areas)

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE OF PERU

IMPLEMENTING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION

The recommendations mentioned before were

attended by the Government during the months

and years after the reports were published and

are just a sample of the whole number of

recommendations made by the Ombudsman in

the policy reports

OMBUDSMAN OFFICE OF PERU

IMPLEMENTING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION

Thank you

www.defensoria.gob.pe

ilanegra@defensoria.gob.pe