Church World Service : CWS praises UN resolution on water access as human right

CWS praises UN resolution on water access as human right
Friday, July 30, 2010

Church World Service is praising a UN General Assembly resolution on Wednesday (July 28) that recognizes the human right to access to water and sanitation.

In the Shamshatoo camp, an Afghan refugee girl enjoys drinking clean water. Around the world Church World Service helps communities access reliable sources of water for drinking, cooking, hygiene and household needs, and agriculture.

Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance

NEW YORK – Church World Service is praising a UN General Assembly resolution on Wednesday (July 28) that recognizes the human right to access to water and sanitation.

The historic non-binding resolution -- approved by a vote of 122 for, 0 against and 41 abstentions – was introduced by Bolivia and co-sponsored by 33 other countries. The resolution states that the UN General Assembly recognizes "the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.”

The adoption of the resolution without a single "no" vote "is an important indication of an emerging international consensus on the human right to water for consumption, personal hygiene and sanitation," said David Weaver, CWS's accredited representative to the UN.

The resolution refers to the Millennium Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2000, that commit governments to work to halve the number of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2015. In September, the United Nations will hold a summit to assess progress made toward achieving the eight goals.

Church World Service and other organizations had urged the United States government to support a UN General Assembly consensus resolution. When it became apparent that consensus on a text on the human right to water was not possible, the U.S. abstained.

Explaining the vote, John F. Sammis, U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, said in a statement: "The United States is deeply committed to finding solutions to our world's water challenges. We support the goal of universal access to safe drinking water. Water and sanitation issues will be an important focus at this September's Millennium Development Goal Summit.

"The United States is committed to working with our development partners to build on the progress they have already made in these areas as part of their national development strategies. Water is essential for all life on earth. Accordingly, safe and accessible water supplies further the realization of certain human rights, and there are human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation."

Weaver said of the U.S. vote: "While abstaining on this resolution, the statement of the U.S. government in support of the progressive realization of the human right to water is a positive development from the position of previous administrations."

The resolution was based partly on the work of Catarina de Albuquerque, appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council based in Geneva as an independent expert on the human right to water and sanitation. Through the Ecumenical Water Network and directly with de Albuquerque's office, Church World Service is working to provide the UN with examples of “best practices” for the fulfillment of the right to water and sanitation.

The expected next steps for the UN on the matter include de Albuquerque working to assist the Human Rights Council and UN member states to define what the scope and content of the human right to water and sanitation is.

Church World Service staff from Cambodia have been invited to provide oral testimony on CWS work to ensure access to water to the UN Human Rights Council at its next meeting in Geneva, scheduled for Sept. 13-14. The CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan office will provide written testimony.