human rights
UN Human Rights Council: Water & Sanitation
12/10/11 09:06
The issue of whether or not water is a basic human right is actually quite controversial and has been opposed by some surprising groups. This may seem puzzling, but I suspect the fear comes from attempts to leverage water as a tool in international (or even international) conflict. The Israeli-Palestinean conflict, for instance, has a strong water component, as does the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. In some cases, there is probably also fear that if we guarantee water as a basic human right, then someone has to deliver that water, regardless of the cost involved. This has been a practical issue for water managers and policymakers in countries that already enshrine water as a “right” such as India. If not handled carefully, the right to have water may also include the right to waste water or use it inefficiently, at the expense of someone else (or the environment). Water pricing can help with efficiency, but it may not always lead to sustainable use.
Given these caveats, below we reprint a statement from the UN Human Rights Council and Amnesty International about a new statement “guaranteeing” water and sanitation as a human right — a bold statement for our time. Climate change is not mentioned, but the question of how you guarantee water in the context of major changes in the hydrological cycle seems important for making this document both effective and real. Read More...
Given these caveats, below we reprint a statement from the UN Human Rights Council and Amnesty International about a new statement “guaranteeing” water and sanitation as a human right — a bold statement for our time. Climate change is not mentioned, but the question of how you guarantee water in the context of major changes in the hydrological cycle seems important for making this document both effective and real. Read More...
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