the human right to water and sanitation in emergency situations

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According to the UN agencies, the objectives of the campaign were to:
- Raise awareness of the population and the Government of Haiti on access to water as a human
right (rather than a need);
- Seek an increased Government of Haiti commitment to enabling the exercise of the right to
water, which could be demonstrated, for example, by ratification of the ICESCR, enactment of the
Water Sanitation Bill, or an increase in government budgets related to clean drinkable water.
During its 2-months duration, the campaign participants (UN agencies, local NGOs active in remote
locations, government experts, representatives of the official water and sanitation services,
etc) conducted awareness-raising activities, including:
- Conferences on economic, social and cultural rights in the 8 regions where the Human Rights
Section of MINUSTAH is present – the conference in the capital Port-au-Prince was held in the
presence of a member of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (independent
experts monitoring the compliance of State Parties with the ICESCR);
- Sensitization activities in high schools, universities, local government offices and remote villages
where access to drinkable water is most problematic;
- Drafting a document advocating the ratification of the ICESCR;
- Joint presentations with representatives of the Ministry of Public Works on access to water and
the work of the Ministry;
- Other sensitization activities with NGO partners at local level, including production and dissemination
of public information materials (posters, etc) and radio broadcasts.
- A closing ceremony on 10 December 2008, focusing on the right to water.
According to the UN, the action benefited from the local knowledge and credibility of NGO partners
operating in remote locations. It also benefited from the support of local authorities and
government experts (even though some of the activities were directed at advocacy towards senior
officials on ratification and budgetary allocations). The action will be followed-up with further advocacy,
particularly around the adoption of the Water and Sanitation Bill.
14.3.7. Alert the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
At the global level, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights can be alerted to the fact
that the right to water and sanitation has been violated. This Committee is responsible for monitoring the
implementation of the ICESCR by States parties. By examining reports submitted by States, the Committee
seeks to determine whether the provisions of the Covenant are, or are not, being adequately applied
by State parties and how the implementation and enforcement of the Covenant could be improved. The
Committee then issues specific legislative, policy and other suggestions and recommendations such that
economic, social and cultural rights are more effectively secured. The first report must be presented within
2 years of the entry into force of the Covenant for a particular State party and thereafter once every 5 years.
After having completed the analysis of the reports in the presence of the States parties, the Committee
draws up “concluding observations” which constitute the decision of the Committee on the status of the
Covenant in the given State party. They are made public on the final day of each session. The conclusions
of the Committee are not binding. But they do indicate the opinion of the only expert body entrusted
with and capable of making such pronouncements. Consequently, for States parties to ignore or not act
on such views would be tantamount to showing bad faith in implementing their Covenant-based obligations.
© ACF - THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS