UN declares access to clean water, sanitation a human right

In what water rights groups are calling an historic vote, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution today to recognize the human right to clean water and sanitation.

Bolivia, the main sponsor of the resolution, made the case for clean water as a human right, saying that lack of access kills more people than any war.  Bolivia's UN representative Pablo Solon spoke through an interpreter.

“Every year more than 3.5 million people die through diseases which are spread through contaminated water. Diarrhea is the second most important cause of deaths in children under the age of five. A lack of access to drinking water kills more children than does AIDS, malaria and measles combined. At the global level roughly one out of every eight people does not have drinking water.”

Bolivia also said the need for action was urgent, noting that 2.6 billion people, or 40 percent of the global population, lacks proper sanitation.

The resolution passed with 122 countries voting yes, zero voting no and 41 abstaining. One of the countries abstaining was the United States, who criticized the process of the resolution, saying it was not drafted in a “transparent, inclusive manner” and did not reflect existing international law.

Anil Naidoo, project organizer from the advocacy group, Blue Planet Project, was at the UN vote today. Speaking to FSRN by phone outside the UN building, Naidoo said that resistance to the resolution was disingenuous.

“Because of the complexity of water it’s difficult to deal with - but that does not give us the license to move passed it. Water is a foundational right, whether you’re talking about the right to health or education or development, water is required for all of those, and more. So ignoring or bypassing water issues only undermines these broader human rights.”

Naidoo said the next step would be for water rights to be taken up in the Human Rights Council. He also said that there may be a need for an international treaty or a global fund to ensure that those - especially in poor countries - are guaranteed access to clean, safe water.