UN council moves forward on right to water, sanitation

On March 28, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a resolution sponsored by Germany and Spain (and more than 40 co-sponsors) establishing an Independent Expert on human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation. The UN human rights system now has a separate mechanism exclusively dedicated to issues related to the right to water and sanitation and governments have obligations to ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation...

April 23, 2008

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 10, 2008 -- On March 28, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a resolution sponsored by Germany and Spain (and more than 40 co-sponsors) establishing an Independent Expert on human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation. This means that the UN human rights system now has a separate mechanism exclusively dedicated to issues related to the right to water and sanitation. The resolution also confirms that governments have obligations to ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation under international human rights law.

Download HRC Resolution A/HRC/7/L.16: http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/RWP%20-%20RTWS%20Resolution%20presented%20to%20HRC%2020%20March%2008.pdf

Download information note on the resolution: http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/RWP%20-%20Information_note_on_HRC_2008_Resolution%2031%2003%2008_Final.pdf

Also see:
-- "COHRE issues policy paper on the Canadian government's opposition to the right to water and sanitation"
-- "Hostage to Politics: The impact of sanctions and the blockade on the human right to water and sanitation in Gaza"
-- "COHRE releases the Manual on the Right to Water and Sanitation"

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