October 6
, 2010
Human Rights Council affirms right to water and sanitation
Girl drinking water from a handpump, Kalyanpur slum, Dhaka, Bangladesh
WaterAid/Juthika Howlader
For the first time, the UN Human Rights Council recognized the right to water and sanitation as legally binding in international law by nation states on 30 September 2010.
In an historic move, the Council affirmed that “the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living, and inextricably related to the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as well as the right to life and human dignity.”
We are very pleased that the US joined other UN member states in affirming these rights. Now, we need concrete action on the ground for the 2.6 billion people without adequate sanitation and the 884 million without safe water 
Mandy Folse, Head of Policy and Advocacy
While experts working with the UN human rights system have long acknowledged this, it was the first time that the Human Rights Council has declared itself on the issue. This recognition means that for the UN, the right to water and sanitation is contained in existing human rights treaties and is therefore legally binding.
The affirmation comes after 120 countries voted in favor of the resolution at the UN General Assembly in New York in July.
Mandy Folse, Head of Policy and Advocacy, said: “This is real success for sanitation and water. We are very pleased that the US joined other UN member states in affirming these rights. Now, we need concrete action on the ground for the 2.6 billion people without adequate sanitation and the 884 million without safe water.”
“The hard work starts here; we need this international agreement translated into action on sanitation and water by governments at the national level.”
WaterAid considers that a rights-based approach is critical to ensuring global access to water and sanitation
Danielle Morley Executive Secretary for Freshwater Action Network, said: 'We’ve been working towards this moment for a decade. This is a fantastic development and will have a huge impact on the water and sanitation sector.
“In 160 countries in all regions of the world, governments can no longer deny their legal responsibility to ensure provision of safe water and sanitation services for the billions of poor people lacking access.”
For more information visit the website www.righttowater.info
ENDS
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