ABSTRACT
The human rights to water and sanitation is a relatively newly recognised right. Nepal is a country where open defecation has been practised very widely across the country by persons with and without disabilities. Tanzania also faces similar challenges of lack of water and sanitation facilities. This case study investigates the realities of persons with disabilities in current Nepal and Tanzania where clean water and sanitation became a national policy and priority including the termination of open defecation practices. Despite overall success of observed projects in general in both countries, persons with disabilities are largely left behind in this process, which has the great risk in even enlarging the inequalities between persons with and without disabilities when people in general start to enjoy some development, while leaving behind others including persons with disabilities. The physical environment and cultural beliefs are explored to understand their reality in the specific contexts..
