BÄR Rosmarie

Water needs the protection of international law

> 2005, Social Watch (Report by Alliance Sud)

http://www.socialwatch.org/en/inform (...)

With facts like "80% of all diseases in developing countries can be traced back to the use of polluted water", the need for an equitable supply of safe water is great. This article outlines the arguments for an international convention within the UN framework binding the right to water and protecting it as a public good. The article discusses the policy failures surrounding the battle for access to water to be safeguarded, looks at some of the existing UN documents which state the need for access to clean drinking water, particularly within a human rights context and the shift from a "public good" to an "economic good". Finally it presents the need for a holistic approach to safeguarding water supply.

• The full report, which goes into further details, can be found in pdf format at the Alliance Sud website here. This report is also available in French and Spanish.

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date of on-line publication : 8 November 2005