2020 marks 10th anniversary of UN resolution on human rights to water and sanitation

2020 marks the tenth year since the UN General Assembly adopted resolution explicitly recognizing the human rights to water and sanitation.

In 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 64/292 recognizing “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”. Subsequently, the Human Rights Council, in September 2010, affirmed this recognition and clarified that the right is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living (HRC res 15/9).

Throughout 2020, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation is organizing a campaign to celebrate 10 years of work and advocacy for the human rights to water and sanitation.

Each month has a different theme in focus;

• January: Different levels and types of service and the human rights to water and sanitation
• February: Service regulation and the human rights to water and sanitation
• March: Gender equality in the human rights to water and sanitation
• April: The human rights to water and sanitation in spheres of life beyond the household. Affordability and the human rights to water and sanitation.
• May: Development cooperation and the human rights to water and sanitation. Megaprojects and human rights to water and sanitation.
• June: Forcibly displaced persons and the human rights to water and sanitation.
• July: The principle of accountability and the human rights to water and sanitation.
• August: Progressive realization of the human rights to water and sanitation.
• September: Privatization and the human rights to water and sanitation.
• October: A compilation of best practices in the human rights to water and sanitation.

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