A/67/270 70. Currently, household surveys do not collect information about intrahousehold differences in access such as by sex, age, or disability. However, they could be amended to capture this dimension by focusing on the actual use of water, sanitation and hygiene by all individuals within a household which would allow for such monitoring. The Special Rapporteur’s experience notes that interviewing women, children or persons with disabilities often draws a different picture of actual use of existing facilities, as well as of the existing barriers that explain lack of use. 71. In addition, it would be extremely valuable to monitor how gender, age, and disability-related inequalities manifest themselves in relation to water, sanitation, and hygiene in public facilities such as schools and health facilities where other human rights are also compromised. Indeed, such inequalities may be even more acute in public spaces, making the collection of data about equity and equality variables especially important in these contexts. 72. While household surveys do not capture information on settings beyond the household, other data sources include this type of information. Information about water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools and health-care facilities appears to be the most widely available, and an emphasis on improving monitoring in such settings is closely tied to the human rights obligations that States have concerning education and health. Data concerning water, sanitation and hygiene access in workplaces should be sought and used whenever possible. Finally, water, sanitation and hygiene data should also be gathered from prisons and other detention centres, since detainees often suffer deprivations of water and sanitation, even resulting in inhuman or degrading treatment. Although such data are not reliably captured around the world, global monitoring bodies should actively seek this information, since State obligations to both provide and monitor such access are at their apex in contexts where they are depriving individuals of their liberty. 73. One particular area where individual inequalities and the lack of attention to the needs of women and girls is starkly apparent is menstrual hygiene management. Menstruation is a taboo topic. In this context, women and girls are forced into furtive practices and obliged to hide their hygiene practices and limit their movements during menstruation. Although there is a dearth of research in this area, several studies demonstrate that adolescent girls often face significant restrictions during and associated with their menses. 39 Girls may be taken out of school or workplaces or choose not to attend because there are no facilities for hygienically managing menstruation in sanitation facilities. 40 74. Because menstrual hygiene management has such a strong impact on gender equality, it could be used as a proxy for information about discrimination against women and girls in sanitation and hygiene. Targets and indicators should be crafted to capture the ability of all women and adolescent girls to manage menstruation __________________ 39 40 20 For further discussion, see Archana Patkar’s contributions to the meeting report of the Joint Monitoring Programme Working Group on Equality and Non-Discrimination, available from http://www.wssinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/resources/Lisbon-Meeting-Report-FINAL.pdf. Ibid; see also Marni Sommer, “Utilizing participatory and quantitative methods for effective menstrual-hygiene management related policy and planning”, paper prepared for the UNICEFGraduate Program in International Affairs Conference on Adolescent Girls, New York, 24-26 April 2010, available from http://www.wsscc.org/sites/default/files/publications/ marnisommer_participatoryquantativemethodsmhmpolicyplanning_2010.pdf. 12-45653