In July 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that ‘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.’
Within the resolution, the work of the U.N. Independent Expert (IE) on human rights related to water and sanitation was acknowledged and it was noted that her rights work should continue in Geneva. As the 15th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council gets underway, the Council will hopefully begin the implementation of these rights by passing an important resolution acknowledging the work of the General Assembly and clarifying that these rights are implicitly contained in Article 11 of the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
While practitioners and advocates around the world are engaging their country governments urging them to actively support this resolution, the IE is hosting a consulation with civil society organizations (CSOs) on good practices in water, sanitation and human rights to continue to create an enabling environment in which these rights can be realized.
So for the next four days or so I am camped out in Geneva — literally, as Geneva hotels are booked full from tomorrow night and I have brought my sleeping bag and the hope that other advocates will be generous!
I am gathering information, networking and hoping to influence the outcome of this current resolution. What is needed is a strong consensus document recalling the UN General Assembly recognition of these rights and as noted above, clarifying that these rights are implicitly contained in Article 11 of the ICESCR.
One frustrating thing about this process is that the unplanned nature of what are called the ‘open informals’ where the members of the committee work with and negotiate the draft text of the resolution. Although these meetings are ‘open’ and CSOs are able to listen and even intervene, the meetings are scheduled so quickly — with days notice – that it would be impossible for anyone not based in Europe to quickly attend and influence. This is why it is so important that we all work together.
On a very positive note, this morning as I waited for the necessary security clearances to get into the U.N., I met two FAN members here for the CSO consulation. Mr. Josiah Omotto, from Umande Trust and KEWASNET in Nairobi, and Ms. Chitralekha Choudury from Gram Vikas and FANSA in India – both of whom are FAN Governance and Transparency programme partners. Tomorrow, these partners, will present on their experience in rural (Ms. Choudury) and urban (Mr. Omotto) work on rights to water and sanitation. There will be several other fabulous presenters including Moses Kulaba from Norwegian Church Aid and TEWASNET in Tanzania who will present work on public expenditure tracking. I caught Mr. Kulaba in the hallway this afternoon and asked him to share a successful advocacy activity with all of you. His advocacy share (involving photography and toilets) is in the video below.
The next two days are a tremendous opportunity to input into the research of the Independent Expert and to learn from the good practices of colleagues around the world. Following this many of us will take to the halls to discuss the resolution with members of the Human Rights Council while many of you contact your country offices and tell them concretely what this resolution and the rights to water and sanitation mean to your work and your country. Time is short! The resolution will be ’tabled’ on 23 September.
As we dig into the subject of human rights on water and sanitation again tomorrow I am hoping that the above participants and others will have some time to share their own thoughts with you directly through this blog … so we can work together to keep you posted on what is happening here in Geneva.
Before you watch and listen to Moses Kabala and the toilet photo campaign below, take action on the resolution on human rights to water and sanitation!
15/09/2010 at 8:26 am |
We are already members of ANEW and FAN and have working with the Government of Zambia and our message is clear and they are agreable to the recognition of the right to water and sanitation.
15/09/2010 at 9:18 am |
Mubu, Zambia actually abstained during the vote in the UN General Assemly on the rights to water and sanitation in July. Since they are on the Human Rights Council, it would be great if there were willing to more actively support. Leadership is needed.
14/09/2010 at 7:21 pm |
I have contacted the Mexican delegation and in particular Miguel Malfavon who is the counselor for humans rights and humanitarian problems in Geneva. He mentionned, he has been in contact with the delegations that proposed the resolution and will do his best to make this resolution to be accepted in the 15th sesion of the Human Rights Counsil.
15/09/2010 at 9:19 am |
Nathalie, Thanks for your work on this – this is great news. I will speak to the Mexican representitives here and thank them on your behalf.
14/09/2010 at 1:11 pm |
I made a submission to the UK goverment today (FCO). UK legal processes are proving a challenge to recognition of the right to sanitation in the time we have available. I hope that they will at the least not break the european consensus in Geneva on the resolution
15/09/2010 at 9:30 am |
Danielle, Thanks for the update. I think that since the UK has been a leaders on the Sanitation and Water for All Global Framework for Action that they should understand why this is so important. At the moment, many here in Geneva have reported that they were unhelpful in the first ‘open informal’ where the text of the resolution is negotiated.
The UK is committed to a rights based approach and has recognized the right to water and I have not heard that this latter has caused them undue legal challenges at home. I remain unclear on the difference between this and recognizing the right to sanitation.
Understanding their domestic legal obstacles, perhaps we can encourage them to speak to other countries in the EU who are supportive but would have similar domestic situations – like Germany – and better understand how this has been reconciled? I think we need to find ways to support the UK to do what they are able and make a plea that they not undermine their own international leadership on these issues, which has been significant, by being perceived to be obstructive.
14/09/2010 at 11:38 am |
We are already member of FANSA and working on about it
15/09/2010 at 9:33 am |
Great news! Several members of Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA) were here for the civil society consultation here in Geneva the last two days hosted by the UN Independent Expert on the rights to water and sanitation. I am sure that they will be reporting back about their experience to the entire network. Many participants said they learned a lot from the FANSA experience.