Meera Karunananthan, Maude Barlow, Anil Naidoo at the UN General Assembly vote on July 28, 2010 recognizing the human right to water and sanitation.
Today is Human Rights Day, a day to know our rights, including the right to water and sanitation, and to commit to their full implementation everywhere.
Blue Planet Project co-founder Maude Barlow has written that United Nations recognition of the human right to water and sanitation includes: “1) The Obligation to Respect. Every government must refrain from any action or policy that interferes with the enjoyment of the new human right to water and sanitation. This means that no one should be denied essential water services because of an inability to pay. 2) The Obligation to Protect. Every government is obliged to prevent third parties from interfering with the enjoyment of the human right to water. Governments now have the obligation to protect local communities from pollution and inequitable extraction of water by corporations or governments. Citizens and communities can now start to hold their governments accountable if mining, energy or fracking companies are destroying their local water sources. 3) The Obligation to Fulfil. Every government is required to adopt any additional measures directed toward the realization of the right to water. This means that governments must facilitate access by providing water services in communities where none exist and ensure that appropriate standards and regulations are in place to assist individuals in constructing and maintaining toilets.”
The Blue Planet Project is committed to holding all governments accountable to their obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the right to water and sanitation.
