12 © ACF - THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
ExECUTIvE SUMMARY Executive summary Water <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> are critical determ<strong>in</strong>ants for <strong>human</strong> survival <strong>and</strong> dignity immediately after <strong>and</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itial stages of a disaster. Whilst <strong>human</strong>itarian agencies have traditionally been <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> fieldwork on those aspects, now, however, advocacy is play<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly important role <strong>in</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> provision dur<strong>in</strong>g emergencies. In this respect, <strong>the</strong> recognition of <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> as a <strong>right</strong> per se offers some new perspectives. It means that every <strong>human</strong>itarian ac<strong>to</strong>r, whe<strong>the</strong>r a staff member work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field or a policy maker, should be aware of exist<strong>in</strong>g laws perta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> this fundamental <strong>right</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> particular because: - International law def<strong>in</strong>es <strong>the</strong> obligations of States <strong>and</strong> provides a framework for <strong>the</strong> exercise of <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong>s <strong>and</strong> responsibilities of o<strong>the</strong>r ac<strong>to</strong>rs, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>human</strong>itarian agencies; - The <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> is fundamentally l<strong>in</strong>ked <strong>to</strong> many o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>human</strong> <strong>right</strong>s; - Lack of access <strong>to</strong> basic services such as <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly considered as a denial/ violation of <strong>human</strong> <strong>right</strong>s. This document is based on <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g key characteristics of <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong>: - Access <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> is a <strong>human</strong> <strong>right</strong> that States <strong>and</strong> non-State ac<strong>to</strong>rs must respect, even <strong>in</strong> <strong>human</strong>itarian crises; - Every person has <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong>, def<strong>in</strong>ed as <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> for everyone <strong>to</strong> «sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible <strong>and</strong> affordable <strong>water</strong> for personal <strong>and</strong> domestic use»; - Everyone has a <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> have access <strong>to</strong> adequate <strong>sanitation</strong>; - The <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> is <strong>in</strong>extricably l<strong>in</strong>ked <strong>to</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>human</strong> <strong>right</strong>s, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> health <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> adequate food. As such, it is a component part of all <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong>s that are essential for <strong>human</strong> survival, <strong>and</strong> that must be guaranteed, especially <strong>in</strong> emergencies; - Water <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> recognized as <strong>human</strong> <strong>right</strong>s ensure that focus is placed on vulnerable <strong>and</strong> marg<strong>in</strong>alized groups, especially <strong>in</strong> <strong>emergency</strong> <strong>situations</strong>; - States have an obligation <strong>to</strong> guarantee availability, quality <strong>and</strong> accessibility of <strong>water</strong> for everyone, as well <strong>to</strong> ensure non-discrim<strong>in</strong>ation, access <strong>to</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation <strong>and</strong> participation <strong>and</strong> accountability; - States must respect, protect <strong>and</strong> fulfil <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong>, at national, community <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividual levels; - The Geneva Conventions <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir Additional Pro<strong>to</strong>cols protect <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> of people <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> context of armed conflict. For <strong>in</strong>stance, <strong>in</strong> times of armed conflict, under International Humanitarian Law it is prohibited <strong>to</strong> attack, destroy, remove or render useless dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>water</strong> <strong>in</strong>stallations or irrigation works. These elements demonstrate how important it is <strong>to</strong> develop a <strong>right</strong>s-based advocacy focused on identify<strong>in</strong>g violations of <strong>the</strong> exercise of <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> sett<strong>in</strong>g out a message of change <strong>to</strong> address violations, promote respect for <strong>in</strong>ternational st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> protect all people aga<strong>in</strong>st violations of <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>right</strong>s. Humanitarian ac<strong>to</strong>rs us<strong>in</strong>g this approach <strong>the</strong>n need <strong>to</strong> identify violations, victims <strong>and</strong> perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs. This will allow <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> elaborate a strategy <strong>and</strong> select <strong>the</strong> best <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiatives <strong>to</strong> put <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> practice. This <strong>in</strong>cludes speak<strong>in</strong>g out, rais<strong>in</strong>g awareness of people’s <strong>right</strong>s <strong>in</strong> emergencies, <strong>and</strong> advocat<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>water</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>sanitation</strong> at all relevant levels <strong>and</strong> fora. It is up <strong>to</strong> each <strong>in</strong>dividual organization <strong>to</strong> def<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> aspect or aspects of <strong>the</strong> <strong>right</strong> that are important <strong>to</strong> its own work, <strong>to</strong> identify any © ACF - THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS 13