Human Right To Water

Human rights are those basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled and which are essential for human existence. One of those essential rights is access to water and sanitation. It is by this legal standard that Safe Water for Sierra Leone has decided to rise up for the benefit of those who have not enjoyed the privileges of such right.

In the past, human rights discussions have largely ignored water and especially sanitation. But after years of fierce debate, the Human Rights Council adopted, on 30th September 2010 by consensus, the resolution (A/HRC/15/L.14) affirming that access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a human right.

An important step to the legal recognition was achieved on 28 July 2010, when the UN General Assembly declared, “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.” Furthermore, it urges countries to “scale-up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable water and sanitation for all.”

Before that historic day, other legal bases on international human rights were used, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child entailing obligations in relation to access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Should you have other questions pertaining legal matters on water safety and sanitation, you are free to send us a message at info@safewatersl.org.