United Nations Radio

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday declared that clean water and sanitation is a human right.

boy drinking water

The assembly made the decision by adopting a resolution with 122 votes in favour to zero against, with 41 abstentions.

A number of speakers voiced their support for the resolution and others expressed reservation and concern that the resolution was not unanimously supported by Member States.

Speaking for the United States, which abstained, John F. Sammis, said the resolution described the right to water and sanitation in a way that is not reflective of existing international law.

"This resolution attempts to take a short-cut around the serious work of formulating, articulating and upholding universal rights. It was not drafted in a transparent, inclusive manner, and the legal implications of a declared right to water have not yet been carefully and fully considered in this body or in Geneva"

Brazil, which supported the resolution, said the human right to water and sanitation is a right that is intrinsically connected to the realization of the right to life, physical integrity, health, food and adequate housing. Regina Dunlop is the representative of Brazil:

"It is the responsibility of states to guarantee those rights to their citizens. We consider that the human right to water and sanitation is compatible with the principle of the sovereign right of states to use their own water resources as reflected in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development."

The resolution on clean water and sanitation was introduced to the General Assembly by Bolivia.

Gerry Adams, United Nations
Duration: 1'43"