How political accountability processes influence how local authorities address sanitation challenges in informal settlements

尽管许多国际和国家承诺“不让任何人掉队”，包括2015年承认卫生设施是一项独特的人权，但全球大多数非正式住区居民仍无法获得安全管理的卫生设施。卫生服务本身就是一种禁忌，它使非正式住区居民感受到的排斥体系更加复杂。国际商定的义务和承诺与关于普遍获得水和卫生设施的国家立法之间的脱节，以及地方当局和市政当局如何解释、资助和实施这些义务和承诺，被认为是改善非正规住区获得卫生设施的绊脚石。现有的问责程序一般不适用于居住在非正式住区或使用非正式服务的人。这项研究将探讨在这种耻辱和排斥的情况下，问责过程如何以及何时能够有效。研究方法将探讨生活在非正式住区的人们与向生活在正式住区的人们提供正式卫生服务的“理想”相比所经历的不同现实。该研究将主要采用定性方法，审查市场驱动理想叙事中存在的内在冲突和不公正现象，为地方政府、工程师和社区本身提供相关工具，改变人们对可能性的看法，为确保每个人都能享有享有卫生设施的人权打开大门。地方政府在其规划中往往忽视非正式住区或卫生设施，将有限的资金优先用于正式住区和其他需求。政治和社会障碍往往隐藏在重大的技术和财政障碍背后。这项研究将引起人们对可改善非正规住区卫生设施的问责程序的关注，并将为地方政府、规划人员和民间社会行为者提供更具包容性的政策、战略和计划方面的建议。

Despite numerous international and national commitments to 'leave no one behind', including the 2015 recognition of sanitation as a distinct human right, the majority of residents of informal settlements across the globe are excluded from access to safely managed sanitation. Sanitation, a service which is itself taboo, compounds the systems of exclusion felt by residents of informal settlements. The disconnect between internationally agreed obligations and commitments and national legislation on universal access to water and sanitation, and how these are interpreted, financed and implemented by local authorities and municipalities is recognised as a stumbling block to improving access to sanitation in informal settlements. Existing accountability processes generally do not apply to people living in informal settlements or using informal services. This research will explore how and when accountability processes can be effective despite this stigma and exclusion.The research approach will explore the different realities experienced by people living in informal settlements compared to the 'ideal' of formal sanitation services delivered to people living in formal settlements. Using predominantly qualitative methods, the research will examine the inherent conflicts and injustices that exist within the narrative of the market-driven ideal, to provide local governments, engineers and the communities themselves with the relevant tools to change perceptions of what is possible, opening the door to ensuring that everyone is able to enjoy their human right to sanitation. Local governments often ignore both informal settlements or sanitation in their plans, prioritising limited financing for formal settlements and other needs. Political and social barriers are often hidden behind significant technical and financial barriers. This research will draw attention to accountability processes that can lead to improved access to sanitation in informal settlements, and will make recommendations for local governments, planners and civil society actors in terms of more inclusive policies, strategies and plans.