the human right to water and sanitation in emergency situations

- Part 2 - Definition of the right to water and sanitation in emergency situations
BoX 14 - Extract from Resolution A/HRC/7/22 on access to safe drinking water and
sanitation
2. Decides to appoint, for a period of three years, an independent expert on the issue of human
rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation in order to:
a) Develop a dialogue with governments, the relevant United Nations bodies, the private sector,
local authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations as well as academic
institutions, to identify, promote and exchange on best practices related to access to safe drinking
water and sanitation, and, in that regard, to prepare a compendium of best practices;
b) Advance the work by undertaking a study – in cooperation with and reflecting the views of
governments and relevant United Nations bodies, and in further cooperation with the private sector,
local authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic
institutions – on the further clarification of the content of human rights obligations, including nondiscrimination
obligations, in relation to access to safe drinking water and sanitation;
c) Make recommendations that could help the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, in
particular of Millennium Development Goal No. 7
d) Apply a gender perspective, including through the identification of gender-specific vulnerabilities;
e) Work in close coordination, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with other Special Procedures
and subsidiary organs of the Human Rights Council, relevant United Nations bodies, the
treaty bodies, and taking into account the views of other stakeholders, including relevant regional
human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations as well as
academic institutions;
f) Submit a report to the Human Rights Council at its tenth session including conclusions and
recommendations.
Overall, this development would seem to indicate better political support by the member States of the
Human Rights Council for the recognition of the right to water and sanitation and also to firmly place this
issue on the Council’s agenda.
There is a legal framework for recognition of the right to water and sanitation, and political
support for this is increasing. The more that NGOs and other stakeholders use this framework, the
more it will become ensconced in the interpretation of international human rights law.
Bearing in mind these recent developments at the Human Rights Council, in our work, we
should:
- Closely monitor all such on-going developments by attending Council sessions, submitting reports
and case studies relating to emergency situations;
- Lobby Governments to obtain their support at the Human Rights Council to gain better recognition
of the right to water and sanitation as a human right;
- Promote and contribute to better defining the right to sanitation, which remains the poor relation
of the right to water and sanitation, especially in emergency situations;
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