WILPF Issues: The Human Right to Water
Bibliography Of UN Quotations in Support of the Human Right to Water
This compilation of quotations from UN Conferences has been arranged for easy reference to support arguments to advance the right to water. We encourage you to reference the actual document, so that it is certain you use the quotation in the correct context. These documents are available
online on the Official Document System of the UN.
|
|
| Statement |
Source |
Type or origin of Document |
"The human right to water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity. It is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights. "
|
Page 1 of E/C.12/2002/11, an official UN document from the 29th session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), 26 Nov 2002 |
General Comment No. 15 (2002) |
"The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses."
|
Page 2 of E/C.12/2002/11, an official UN document from the 29th session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), 26 Nov 2002 |
General Comment No. 15 (2002) |
"The right to water clearly falls within the category of guarantees essential for securing an adequate standard of living, particularly since it is one of the most fundamental conditions for survival."
|
Page 3 of E/C.12/2002/11, an official UN document from the 29th session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), 26 Nov 2002 |
General Comment No. 15 (2002) |
"The right to water is also inextricably related to the right to the highest attainable standard of health ([ICESCR] art. 12, para. 1) and the rights to adequate housing and adequate food ([ICESCR] art. 11, para. 1)."
|
Page 2 of E/C.12/2002/11, an official UN document from the 29th session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), 26 Nov 2002 |
General Comment No. 15 (2002) |
"During armed conflicts, emergency situations and natural disasters, 'the
right to water embraces those obligations by which States parties are bound under international humanitarian law,' i.e. protection of objects indispensable for the survival of the civilian population (including drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works) and protection of the natural environment against widespread, long-term and severe damage ([ICESCR art. 12] para. 22). The realization of the right to water presupposes the right of individuals and groups to have full and equal access to information concerning water, water services and the environment, whether held by public authorities or third parties, and to participate in the formulation and implementation of national water strategies that may affect their exercise of their right to water ([ICESCR art. 12] para. 48)."
|
Page 5 of E/CN.4/2005/96, an official UN document from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 19 Jan 2005 |
Report of the Secretary-General |
"The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Mr. Miloon Kothari, has stressed on several occasions that from a human rights perspective the issue of housing cannot be separated from a range of other issues related to sustainable development, including land, access to potable water and sanitation, a safe and healthy environment, and poverty."
|
Page 7 of E/CN.4/2005/96, an official UN document from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 19 Jan 2005 |
Report of the Secretary-General |
"Guideline 8 [of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines to support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security] suggests that States facilitate sustainable, non-discriminatory and secure access and utilization of resources consistent with their national law and with international law, and respect and protect the rights of individuals with respect to resources such as land, water, forests, fisheries, and livestock without any discrimination."
|
Page 9 of E/CN.4/2005/96, an official UN document from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 19 Jan 2005 |
Report of the Secretary-General |
"WHO stated in its submission that at the core of its work is the estimation of the burden of water-related disease, which reflects the inextricable link between the right to water and the right to health, and the need for safe water supply and safe water management practices to affirm these rights."
|
Page 9 of E/CN.4/2005/96, an official UN document from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 19 Jan 2005 |
Report of the Secretary-General |
"Switzerland stated that it does not recognize for the time being an individual right to a healthy environment as a fundamental right, but acknowledges that a healthy and clean environment is a component of several human rights, like the right to health, to food, to water and so on."
|
Page 13 of E/CN.4/2005/96, an official UN document from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 19 Jan 2005 |
Report of the Secretary-General |
"States and Union Territories have been asked to formulate specific schemes under the Special Component Plan for the development of women from the vulnerable sections in the field of education, housing, drinking water supply facilities and also ownership rights on assets."
|
Page 3 of a Statement by H.E. Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India, on Agenda Item No. 12 at the 61st Session of the Commission on Human Rights, 6 April 2005 |
India |
"Women's limited access to productive resources including land, water, energy, credit, education and training, health and adequately remunerated employment, has contributed to a situation wherein more women live in absolute or relative poverty today than 10 years ago."
|
Page 1 of a Statement by Ambassador Glaudine Mtshali, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of South Africa, on Agenda Item No. 12 at the 61st Session of the Commission on Human Rights, 6 April 2005 |
South Africa |
"[The CHR] affirms that access to a sufficient amount of safe, clean water for personal and domestic use and adequate nutrition is fundamental to the realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health."
|
Page 7 of E/CN.4/2005/L.28, an official UN document from the 61st Session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 12 April 2005 |
Brazil |
"[The CHR] recalls the proclamation, by the General Assembly, of the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", 2005-2015 and, in this context, takes note of general comment No. 15 (2002) on the right to water adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights."
|
Page 4 of E/CN.4/2005/L.24, an official UN document from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 11 April 2005 |
Portugal |
"[The CHR] recalls general comment No. 15 (2002) on the right to water (articles 11 and 12 of the Covenant) adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in which the Committee notes, inter alia, the importance of ensuring sustainable water resources for human consumption and agriculture in the realization of the right to adequate food."
|
Page 5 of E/CN.4/2005/L.20, official UN documentation from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 11 April 2005 |
Cuba |
"[The CHR], guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, particularly on the question of...human rights affected by the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products, including the rights to clean water."
|
Page 1 of E/CN.4/2005/L.16, official UN documentation from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 11 April 2005 |
Ethiopia (on behalf of the African group) |
"[The CHR], affirming that the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes constitute a serious threat to...human rights affected by the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products, including the rights to clean water."
|
Page 2 of E/CN.4/2005/L.1661st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 11 April 2005 |
Ethiopia (on behalf of the African group) |
"[The CHR], aware also that many developing countries do not have the national capacities and technologies to process such wastes in order to eradicate or diminish their adverse effects on human rights...including the rights to clean water."
|
Page 3 of E/CN.4/2005/L.16, official UN documentation from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 11 April 2005 |
Ethiopia (on behalf of the African group) |
"[The CHR] Reaffirms that illicit traffic in and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes constitute a serious threat to human rights...including the rights to clean water."
|
Page 3 of E/CN.4/2005/L.16, official UN documentation from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 11 April 2005 |
Ethiopia (on behalf of the African group) |
"[The CHR] urges the international community and the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme and the secretariat for the Basel Convention, to continue to give appropriate support to developing countries, upon their request, in their efforts to implement the provisions of existing international and regional instruments controlling the transboundary movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes in order to protect and promote human rights...including the rights to clean water."
|
page 4 of E/CN.4/2005/L.16, official UN documentation from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 11 April 2005 |
Ethiopia (on behalf of the African group) |
"With regard to OP 8 concerning a so-called "right to water," the United States it appropriate specifically to refer in resolutions to the general comments of treaty-based human rights committees, as these committees have not been given the mandate by the States Parties to those treaties to issue binding or authoritative legal opinions. With respect to general comment 15 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the United States notes that it does not share the view of the Covenant expressed in that document."
|
Page 2 of the Explanation of Vote on E/CN.4/2005/L.24, official UN documentation from the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 14 April 2005 |
United States of America |
"States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in rural areas in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, that they participate in and benefit from rural development and, in particular, shall ensure to such women the right...to enjoy adequate living conditions, particularly in relation to housing, sanitation, electricity and water."
|
Art. 14, para. 2(h) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), monitored by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women |
|
"[The General Assembly], emphasizing that water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and the eradication of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well-being."
|
Page 1 of A/RES/58/217, official documentation from the 58th session of the UN General Assembly, 9 Feb 2004 |
Resolution |
"[The General Assembly] decides that the goals of the [International Decade for
Action, "Water for Life"] should be a greater focus on water-related issues at all levels and on the implementation of water-related programmes and projects, while striving to ensure the participation and involvement of women in water-related development efforts."
|
Page 2 of A/RES/58/217, official documentation from the 58th session of the UN General Assembly, 9 Feb 2004 |
Resolution |
"Some countries (for example, South Africa 3 ) have chosen to enshrine a right of access to water in their constitutions, while others reflect this in national water legislation."
|
Article 2, paragraph 5 of E/CN.17/2005/2, official documentation from the 13th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), 9 Dec 2004 |
Report of the Secretary-General |
"Support for local initiatives led by community-based organizations, including participation of women, is most conducive to project sustainability. As the main water haulers, women are likely to have the strongest interest in ensuring effective operation and maintenance of a convenient and safe water source."
|
Article 6, paragraph 50 of E/CN.17/2005/2, official documentation from the 13th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), 9 Dec 2004 |
Report of the Secretary-General |
"Although access to safe drinking water and other resources has been recognized as a human right, implementation of this right has thus far failed,
negatively impacting women."
|
Article 1, paragraph 1 of E/CN.17/2005/5, official documentation from the Major groups' Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for the 13th session of the CSD, 15 Dec 2004 |
Women, Environment and Development Organization |
"The creation of national frameworks (for example, constitutional, legislative and regulatory) is premised on access to water as a basic human right. National and local governments should assume responsibility for implementation."
|
Article 1, paragraph 2 of E/CN.17/2005/5, official documentation from the Major groups' Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for the 13th session of the CSD, 15 Dec 2004 |
Women, Environment and Development Organization |
"Women's safe access to water, housing and sanitation should be ensured, particularly in situations of conflict and war."
|
Article 1, paragraph 5 of E/CN.17/2005/5, official documentation from the Major groups' Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for the 13th session of the CSD, 15 Dec 2004 |
Women, Environment and Development Organization |
| "Governments should recognize the negative impacts of water privatization on the livelihoods of poor and indigenous women. Water must be identified by all Governments, the private sector and all other stakeholders as a public good and human right, not a commodity to be traded on the open market." |
Article 1, paragraph 7 of E/CN.17/2005/5, official documentation from the Major groups' Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for the 13th session of the CSD, 15 Dec 2004 |
Women, Environment and Development Organization |
"Governments should acknowledge the basic human right to water, as affirmed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of the Economic and Social Council in November 2002. Recognition of this right in national policy-making and legislation is critical to bringing about a basic approach to poverty eradication."
|
Article 3, paragraph 63 of E/CN.17/2005/5, official documentation from the Major groups' Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for the 13th session of the CSD, 15 Dec 2004 |
Sustainable Development Issues Network |
"Considering that access to sufficient water for basic human needs and housing are established human rights, they should be incorporated into national law, backed by specific measurable plans for implementation."
|
Article 4, paragraph 96 of E/CN.17/2005/5, official documentation from the Major groups' Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for the 13th session of the CSD, 15 Dec 2004 |
Sustainable Development Issues Network |
"At its twelfth session, the Commission [on Sustainable Development] noted the concerns expressed by major groups that water is a fundamental right, not an economic good, requiring significant financial and human resources, as well as regulatory frameworks and public sector provision. It noted a lack of leadership by Governments in the debate over privatization of water resource management and called for a clear distinction between water for basic human needs and water for economic uses as a basis for socially balanced pricing in national plans and implementation strategies."
|
Article 6, paragraph 137 of E/CN.17/2005/5, official documentation from the Major groups' Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for the 13th session of the CSD, 15 Dec 2004 |
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions |
"Water is necessary for food production, health and the livelihoods of millions
of farm families. It is a public concern. Water is not a tradeable good."
|
Article 9, paragraph 218 of E/CN.17/2005/5, official documentation from the Major groups' Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements for the 13th session of the CSD, 15 Dec 2004 |
International Federation of Agricultural Producers |
"Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right and essential for achieving gender equality (freeing women and girls from spending long hours fetching water), sustainable development and poverty alleviation."
|
Page 5 of DESA/DSD/2005/2, official documentation from the Background Paper No. 2 Submitted to the 12th session of the CSD, 14-30 April 2004 |
Interagency Task Force on Gender and Water |
"Water for basic needs has been identified primarily as a public good and a human right -- and not as a commodity to be traded in the open market."
|
Page 15 of DESA/DSD/2005/2, official documentation from the Background Paper No. 2 Submitted to the 12th session onf the CSD, 14-30 April 2004 |
Interagency Task Force on Gender and Water |
"Women, who know best about the vital nature of clean water and safe sanitation, play a crucial role in peace building actions through water resources management and cooperation."
|
Page 17 of DESA/DSD/2005/2, official documentation from the Background Paper No. 2 Submitted to the 12th session of the CSD, 14-30 April 2004 |
Interagency Task Force on Gender and Water |
"In addition, water scarcity and insufficient sanitation frequently accelerate in armed conflicts. The civilian population - above all women and children - is the first to suffer from the disruption of water supply, and often thirst has proved to be more deadly than guns. People affected by natural and man- made disasters are more likely to become ill and die from diseases related to inadequate sanitation and water supplies than from any other single cause. Minimum standards are urgently needed for post-disaster and emergency sanitation services."
|
Page 17 of DESA/DSD/2005/2, Background Paper No. 2 Submitted to the 12th session of the CSD, 14-30 April 2004 |
Interagency Task Force on Gender and Water |
| "Water is a 'merit good,' a good to which, independently of other considerations, the State should provide universal access." |
Page 1 of "Issues Note on International Trade, Investment and
Development Aspects of Policies Relating to the Provision of Water and Sanitation
Services at the National and
International Levels," Background discussion paper for the Finance and Development Cooperation Ministers and Experts Panel at the 13th session of the CSD, 18 April 2005 |
UNCTAD Secretariat |
| "To summarize, in adopting a market-based approach, developing countries face a number of significant challenges. One is how to reconcile a 'rights -based approach' to the provision of drinking water with private involvement and market mechanisms." |
Page 4 of "Issues Note on International Trade, Investment and
Development Aspects of Policies Relating to the Provision of Water and Sanitation
Services at the National and International Levels," Background discussion paper for the Finance and Development Cooperation Ministers and Experts Panel, at the 13th session of the CSD, 18 April 2005 |
UNCTAD Secretariat |
"To take a very simple example, imagine the situation of one of the growing number of female farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, trying to produce food for her children and a basic income from the family plot. She can take advantage of the opportunity provided by irrigation infrastructure only if she and her family are in good health, she is able to enforce her rights to water and reliable irrigation service, and she has access to agricultural inputs, knowledge, markets, credit, and the means to plough, harvest, and transport her crops."
|
Pages 9-10 of DESA/DSD/2005/5, Background Paper No. 5, submitted to the 13th session of the CSD, 11-24 April 2004 |
The Global Water Partnership (GWP)
Technical Committee |
"An effective global implementation mechanism requires a solid international legal foundation. For this reason, we reiterate our earlier expressed view that it is necessary to develop a United Nations convention on access to freshwater."
|
Page 2 of a Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan KH. Kazykhanov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, at the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting of the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005 |
Kazakhstan |
"Un nouveau code de l'eau a été adopté en fin 2004 par I' assemblée nationale et le sénat. Il affirme la domanialité de l'eau, protège l'environnement et les ressources en eau, fait de I'accès à l'eau un droit de chacun, consolide les acquis en matière de gestion intégrée et durable des ressources en eau, définit les rôles des intervenants et facilite la mise en oeuvre de la politique nationale d'accès à l'eau potable et à I'assainissement." (Rough translation: A new water code was adopted at the end of 2004 by the National Assembly and the senate. It affirms the domaniality of water, protects the environment and water resources, makes access to water the right of each person, consolidates the background information regarding the integrated and sustainable management of water resources, defines the roles of participants and facilitates the implementation of national policies of access to potable water and sanitation.)
|
Page 3 of a Statement made by H.E. Mr. Sidi Mohamed Ould Taleb Amar, Minister of Rural Development, of Hydraulics and of the Environment of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, during the 13th session of the CSD, April 21, 2005 |
Mauritania |
| "Many Indigenous Peoples have been and continue to be denied their water rights, and therefore their rights to life and to development." |
Page 1 of the Closing Statement made during the 13th session of the CSD, 22 April 2005, by Eugenia Juarez, Maya Indigenous Peoples, Guatemala on behalf of the CSD 13 Indigenous Peoples Caucus (Major Group)
Indigenous Peoples Caucus Input Group: Estebancio Castro Diaz (Panama), International Indian Treaty Council
|
Indigenous Peoples Caucus (Major Group) |
"Water is a human right. That should not be in question, least of all at the United Nations founded on a Universal Declaration enshrining the right to life. We should not be content that when we do not share that vision, other people perish. Diseases related to contaminated water kill a child every 15 seconds. We repeat, water is a human right. The responsibility of a State is to respect, protect and fulfil that right, not to ignore it, or sell it. The responsibility includes protecting and managing the ecosystems on which secure water supply depends."
|
Page 1 of the Closing statement made by NGOs Major Group during the 13th session of the CSD, 22 April 2005 |
NGOs Major Group |
"People have a right to safe drinking water, sanitation and security tenure and, accordingly, it is the responsibility of Governments to make it accessible and affordable."
|
page 1 of a Statement made by H.E. Mr. Huseyngulu Baghirov Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic Azerbaijan, during the 13th session of the CSD, 20 April 2005 |
Azerbaijan |
"Close interaction between sustainable development and development, not excluding innovative proposals for financing, is of high importance. The federal parliament underlined this a week ago by agreeing that access to water is a fundamental right."
|
Page 2 of the Statement made by H.E. Mrs. Els van Weert, State-Secretary for Sustainable Development, during the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005 |
Belgium |
| "Our constitution provides for the promotion of equal access to adequate shelter, water, safe environment and other basic services, as integral parts of human rights." |
Page 2 of the Statement made by the Honourable Mr. John Pandeni, Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development of the Republic of Namibia during the 13th session of the CSD, 20 April 2005 |
Namibia |
"Business and industry has emphasized the importance of implementation of agreed sustainable development commitments and objectives, particularly those in Agenda 21, the JPOI, MDGs and Monterrey Consensus. We also note that the 2002 International Covenant relating to Economic, Social and Cultural Rights includes the right to access to water, which is consistent with these other commitments."
|
Page 2 of the Statement made by Dr. Steve Lennon, Chair, ICC Environment/Energy Commission during the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005 |
Business and Industry Major Group / Business Action for Water (BAW) |
"We hope that, while supporting a rights-based approach, that follow-up from CSD13 will stress the priority need of the poorest populations to have access to potable water, sanitation and other water services. Business does not support privatization of water resources. Public versus private delivery of services is not the issue. The provision of water and sanitation services is recognised as a public service, whether operated by the public or private entities. Governments, donors and civil society should ensure that they support solutions that are both efficient and acceptable to the local community."
|
Pages 1-2 of a Statement made by Dr. Steve Lennon, Chair, ICC Environment/Energy Commission during the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005 |
Business and Industry Major Group / Business Action for Water (BAW) |
"GCI recognizes that national and local companies, as well as international corporations may contribute to overcoming the water crisis, as they steadily diversify their offer of water services. However, they should do it only when those immediately concerned consider it the most reasonable option from the ecological, social and economic standpoints. The implementation of such projects and works must be placed under the control of public authorities, with full respect for the fundamental principles of the Human Right to Water."
|
Page 3 of a Statement made during the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005, by M. Gorbachev
Chairman of the Board, Green Cross International |
Green Cross International (GCI) |
"The right to water is mentioned more or less explicitly in a number of international legal documents: in the Action Plan adopted by the UN Water Conference in Mar del Plata (1977), in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979), in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and in the Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development (1992), as well as in many national laws."
|
Page 4 of a Statement made by M. Gorbachev
Chairman of the Board, Green Cross International, during the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005 |
Green Cross International (GCI) |
"One important step in the right direction was made in November 2002, when the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognized the right to water as a basic human right. In theory, the 145 countries that have ratified the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are thus obliged to gradually ensure fair access to clean drinking water. However, the Committee's interpretation of this document does not imply any legal obligation for governments to implement its provisions."
|
Pages 4-5 of a Statement made by M. Gorbachev
Chairman of the Board, Green Cross International, during the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005 |
Green Cross International (GCI) |
"Finally, we call particular attention to the HIV- AIDS pandemic and especially its impact on vulnerable groups, on women- and children-headed households. Waterborne diseases are much more life-threatening to these groups. And the price -gouging by private water providers is a huge problem for them. These vulnerable groups deserve our special attention, and they have the right to safe and affordable water, even more than the rest of us."
|
Page 1 of the Statement by David Boys, Public Services International, during the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005 |
Trade Union Major Group |
"We the women major group, recall that water is a basic human right. It is not negotiable... Through learning by doing, South Africa has developed a model that responds to their own economic, political and social development, that recognizes the right of 'water for all.' The South Africa government recognized that not all South Africans can afford to pay even the minimum amount of water. Therefore the water department developed a model where a limited basic amount of water is provided for free, and is cross-subsidised by the large users of water."
|
Page 1 of a Statement made by Women's Major Group, during the 13th session of the CSD, 21 April 2005 |
Women's Major Group |
"Public Sector provision of vital services in water, sanitation and human settlements is based on the principle that access is a fundamental right, the basis of a dignified, productive life and social inclusion. Water, for example, has been recognized as a fundamental right not an economic good, requiring significant financial and human resources."
|
Page 1 of a Statement Made by the Trade Unions Major Group, during the 13th session of the CSD, 13 April 2005 |
Trade Unions Major Group |
"The move from a needs-based approach to a rights-based approach reinforces and clarifies water as a human right. Sucessful public financing and community management of water services is fundamental to the protection and safeguarding of this human right."
|
Page 1 of the Statement made by the CSD Youth Caucus, during the 13th session of the CSD, 12 April 2005 |
Youth Major Group |
| "Governments should acknowledge the basic human right to water that the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ECOSOC) affirmed in November 2002. Recognition of this right in national policy-making and legislation is critical to bring about fundamental approach to poverty eradication." |
Page 1 of a Statement by Estebancio Castro, International Indian Treaty Council and Lucy Mulenkei, Indigenous
Information Network,during the 13th session of the CSD, 12 April 2005 |
Indigenous Peoples Major Group |
"A rights-based, pro-poor approach to water requires the following actions:..Ensuring women's rights to security of land tenure and land inheritance as preconditions to solving the problems of lack of access to clean water...Investing in infrastructure development, including innovative technologies like rainwater harvesting, in order to drastically reduce the time burden borne by women and girls, whose water-related responsibilities prevent them from engaging in other productive activities, including education."
|
Page 1 of a Statement made by the Women's Caucus, during the 13th session of the CSD, 12 April 2005 |
Women's Major Group |
"Earlier this year in January at the UN-convened Mauritius International Meeting to conduct the 10-year-review of the Barbados Program of Action for the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the water, sanitation and human settlements issues in SIDS received special attention of the international community. The Mauritius Strategy clearly emphasizes that the 'access to safe drinking water, the provision of sanitation and the promotion of hygiene are the foundations of human dignity, public health and economic and social development.'"
|
Page 3 of the Opening Statement of Mr. Anwarul K. Chowdhury, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, to the 13th session of the CSD, 11 April 2005 |
UN OHRLLS |
"Starting with the right to water is not rhetoric. It has immediate practical implications. A right to water means: A right for women to participate in decision making. A right to choose appropriate indigenous technologies. A right to information about the performance of the water sector. And critically a right to water means protecting and managing the natural resource base for present and for future generations. All of our efforts are meaningless when there is no more water."
|
Page 1 of the Opening Statement of the NGOs Major Group on Water and IWRM, to the 13th session of the CSD, 11 April 2005 |
NGOs Major Group |
