Remembering the human right to water on Earth Day

Children carrying water
Photo: Tom Hampson/CWS

April 21, 2008

As Earth Day approaches on April 22, Church World Service (CWS) continues to advocate for the Human Right to Water to be actualized.

In 2002, the United Nation’s Committee for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights agreed on a General Comment to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights related to the human right to water. General Comment 15 interpreted provisions in the covenant, noting, “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.”

However, as the world continues to warm and as rains fail, water shortages will increase and consequently lead to increased conflict, stress and competition between communities for the dwindling resource.

CWS’ Director of Education and Advocacy, Rajyashri Waghray, points out that water for drinking and household use must be an important part of the climate change discussion. "A key strategy," Waghray says, "for reducing the impact of global warming on vulnerable and marginalized populations, such as shortages of fresh water, is to provide access to safe, affordable water for all."

But in Africa, for example, approximately 200 million people do not have easy access to water and that number is expected to increase by 50 million by 2020 and double by 2050, due to climate change.

In the semi-arid West Pokot District of Kenya, climate change’s impact on the access to water is being felt, as women and children are walking farther distances, up to 12 miles a day, in search for water.

However, adaptation programs like those of CWS partner Yang’at, which constructs sub-surface dams and wells in West Pokot, are actualizing the right to water in six villages. At the same time, the program is reintegrating 300 children, mostly girls, into schools. With water close to communities, children who once spent most of their day in search of water now have time to attend school.

To learn more about CWS’ work on the Human Right to Water and for information on how you can make a difference, please visit: http://www.churchworldservice.org/Educ_Advo/water/index.html