•  stockholm
• Saturday, October 30, 2010
• Inter Press Service

The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) Friday welcomed the historic decision by the Human Rights Council to recognise water and sanitation as basic human rights. Anders Berntell, Executive Director of SIWI described the decision as 'an important step in the work to secure access to drinking water and sanitation for all.' He added that SIWI has actively supported global advocacy efforts to recognise this human right.

Following the recognition of the human right to drinking water and sanitation by the UN General Assembly last July, the Geneva-based Human Rights Council clarified at a recent session that the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is derived from the already existing right to adequate standard of living. Member states reached consensus on this decision, which establishes the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation as legally binding in international law.

The new resolution reaffirms the primary responsibility by states to ensure the full realisation of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. It stipulates that states must ensure transparency, non-discrimination and accountability in the provision of drinking water and sanitation services, whether provided by state or non-state actors (such as private companies, entrepreneurs, NGOs, community-based organisations and state-owned companies).

Berntell said 'it is urgent that all actors collaborate and speed up their efforts to implement the right to safe drinking water and sanitation. This is a responsibility for governments as well as local authorities, but also for the international community including international financial institutions and donors.' Currently there are more than2.6 billion people who do not have access to basic sanitation and 1.5 million children under 5 die every year due to water and sanitation-related diseases.

© Inter Press Service (2010) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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