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The Human Right to Water The Human Right to Water and Sanitation and Sanitation –– Its Its

Recognition and DefinitionRecognition and Definition

Dr. Anke StockDr. Anke Stock

WECFWECF

World Water Day 22World Water Day 22ndnd March 2011 March 2011

Chisinau, MoldovaChisinau, Moldova

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ContentContent

• Global ProblemGlobal Problem• HR to Water and Sanitation and HR to Water and Sanitation and

Associated RightsAssociated Rights• History of the Development to a HRHistory of the Development to a HR• Definition of the RightDefinition of the Right• What to do with a HR?What to do with a HR?• WECF’s VisionWECF’s Vision

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Associated Human RightsAssociated Human Rights

Right to Life (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)

Right to Food(International Covenant on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights)

Right to Housing(International Covenant on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights)

Right to Education(International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)

Right to an Adequate Standard of Living(International Covenant on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights)

Photo by WECF

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History and Development of History and Development of the HRthe HR

• HR developmentHR development• ICESCR 1966 ICESCR 1966 –– indirect recognition indirect recognition• Art. 11 (1) ICESCR: “adequate Art. 11 (1) ICESCR: “adequate

standard of living”standard of living”• Art. 12 (2) ICESCR: “highest Art. 12 (2) ICESCR: “highest

attainable standard of health”attainable standard of health”• General Comment No. 15General Comment No. 15

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History: Direct Recognition of History: Direct Recognition of the HRthe HR

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Art. 14)

• Convention on the Rights of the Child (Art. 24)

• UNECE Protocol on Water and Health

• UN Millennium Development Goals

Goal 3 (Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women)

Goal 4 (Child Health)Goal 5 (Improve Maternal Health)Goal 7 (Ensure Environmental

Sustainability)

Well in Romania. Photo by WECF

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History History

• FFurther advancement by Indp. Expert urther advancement by Indp. Expert on hr to water and sanitationon hr to water and sanitation

• July 2010 UN General Assembly July 2010 UN General Assembly RReesolution (A/RES/64/292)solution (A/RES/64/292)

• October 2010 HRC Resolution October 2010 HRC Resolution (A/HRC/RES/15/9)(A/HRC/RES/15/9)

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Definition: 5 normative criteriaDefinition: 5 normative criteria

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Definition: 5 cross-cutting Definition: 5 cross-cutting criteriacriteria

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What to do with a HR?What to do with a HR?

• RRaising aising awareness/educawareness/educationation

• Lobby Lobby work/advocacywork/advocacy

• CClaim laim nationally/internnationally/internationallyationally

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WECF‘s VisionWECF‘s Vision• Safe and acceptable Safe and acceptable

water for each member water for each member of societyof society

• Affordable access to a Affordable access to a sufficient amout of water sufficient amout of water and thus to basic and thus to basic sanitationsanitation

• Gender equality in Gender equality in decision-making decision-making processes on water and processes on water and sanitationsanitation

• Free access to Free access to information on water information on water safety, sanitation and safety, sanitation and related issuesrelated issues

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Thank you!Thank you!

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