Over 70 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide due to conflict, violence or human rights violations. The UN Special Rapporteur on water and sanitation highlights that all forcibly displaced persons, regardless of location or legal status, are equally entitled to safe drinking water and sanitation as a basic human right. However, in practice their access is often compromised during emergencies, transit, and in camps or detention facilities where conditions are substandard. The report calls for an inclusive approach that ensures access for all displaced persons, including those living outside of camps, through coordination between humanitarian and development actors.

1. FORCIBLY DISPLACED
PERSONS
THE HUMAN RIGHTS
TO WATER AND
SANITATION OF
A/HRC/39/55
Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

2. VICTIM BENEFICIARY
STATISTIC
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

3. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
RIGHTS-HOLDER RIGHTS-HOLDER
RIGHTS-HOLDER

4. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
COVID-19 CAN'T TELL THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
CITIZEN OR A REFUGEE
#REFUGEEDAY
#WITHREFUGEES
Refugees are rights-holders
and need access to water
in times of #COVID19

5. had been forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution,
armed conflict, other situations of violence, or human rights
violations.
By 2020,
- 25.9 million refugees, 3.5 million asylum seekers
and 41.3 million internally displaced persons -
70.8 million people
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
Figures = UNCHR 'Figures at a glance"

6. CLIMATE CHANGE: A REASON FOR
DISPLACEMENT AND MIGRATION
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

7. MEGAPROJECTS: ANOTHER
REASON FOR DISPLACEMENT AND
MIGRATION
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

8. The human rights to water and sanitation in
emergency situations are all too often
compromised. More children still die from poor
water quality and sanitation-related diseases
than from direct violence in many conflict-
affected countries
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

9. ALL FORCIBLY DISPLACED PERSONS ARE EQUALLY
ENTITLED TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS TO SAFE DRINKING
WATER AND SANITATION,
IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR CURRENT LOCATION AND THE
STATUS BESTOWED ON THEM.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

10. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
NATIONALS NON-NATIONALS

11. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

12. The framework of the human rights to water and sanitation must be
applied at all times:
before, during, andafter
emergencysituations
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

13. +
INTERNATIONAL
HUMAN RIGHTS
LAW
+
INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN
LAW
which applies to
armed conflict
which applies at
all times
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

14. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
THE HUMAN RIGHTS TO WATER AND
SANITATION APPLY EVEN IN TIMES OF ARMED
CONFLICT, NATURAL DISASTERS OR OTHER
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

15. When forcibly displaced persons are
en route, in transit or at reception,
they are vulnerable, because they
require access to water and sanitation
immediately and continuously in
unfamiliar places.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

16. En route, many displaced persons are forced to travel
in harsh conditions, such as heat or cold, without
adequate protection or assistance.

17. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
In reception and detention facilities under the
authority of receiving countries, States often
do not apply the same conditions as those
granted to nationals, and provide a lower
standard of water and sanitation services to
forcibly displaced persons.

18. Migrants and sometimes their
children are detained in
unacceptable substandard
conditions, with poor hygiene,
and limited or no access to
sanitation, water and other
services.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

19. Migrants and sometimes their
children are detained in
unacceptable substandard
conditions, with poor hygiene,
and limited or no access to
sanitation, water and other
services.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

20. EVEN IF RECEIVING COUNTRIES HAVE LIMITED
RESOURCES, THEY CANNOT JUSTIFY “RESTRICTING
THE ENJOYMENT OF THE ESSENTIAL CONTENT” OF
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

21. STATES, PARTICULARLY ECONOMICALLY DEVELOPED
STATES, HAVE NO JUSTIFICATION FOR PROVIDING
FORCIBLY DISPLACED PERSONS WITH SUBSTANDARD
WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES OR FOR USING
POOR LIVING CONDITIONS AS A MEANS TO
DISCOURAGE THEM FROM ENTERING THE TERRITORY
OR TO EXPEL THEM.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

22. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
financial resources
human resources
material resources

23. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
Internally displaced persons
outnumber refugees, and are often at
the frontline of conflicts; yet, they
tend to fall within protection gaps.

24. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
Internally displaced persons
outnumber refugees, and are often at
the frontline of conflicts; yet, they
tend to fall within protection gaps.

25. BEYOND "LIFE-SAVING"
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

26. Reports indicate that forcibly displaced persons increasingly live outside
organized camps. Despite this, humanitarian assistance, including in the form of
water, sanitation and hygiene, is usually directed to camps.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

27. FORCIBLY DISPLACED PERSONS LIVING
OUTSIDE OF CAMPS TEND NOT TO HAVE
ACCESS TO THE WATER AND SANITATION
SERVICES THEY NEED.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

28. Support for access to water and sanitation services can be
provided through:
cash programmes,
the upgrading of facilities at
the household or communal
infrastructure level,
or by helping municipality
utilities to improve and
extend services.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

29. Identifying needs of forcibly displaced individuals within a
household is an even greater challenge owing to the
absence of intra-household data.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

30. LACK OF COORDINATION
UNCLEAR RESPONSIBILITIES
LACK OF LEADERSHIP
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

31. Governments are expected to play a coordinating role;
fragile governments, however, are often further
disempowered when they are bypassed in the
channelling of humanitarian aid.
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

32. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

33. TOWARDS AN
INCLUSIVE APPROACH
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

34. INSECURITY OF
TENURE
LACK OF ACCESS
TO WORK
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

35. ENABLING RETURN THROUGH THE
REALIZATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS TO
WATER AND SANITATION
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

36. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
Return of refugees and
internally displaced persons
Increased
pressure on
resources
Tension and further
conflict with local
communities.

37. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
INCREASING HUMAN RIGHTS
INCREASING RESILIENCE
=

38. PARTICIPATION AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND PREPAREDNESS
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

39. REMEDY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND PREPAREDNESS
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

40. PREPAREDNESS
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND PREPAREDNESS
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

41. PRIOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND PREPAREDNESS
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

42. COORDINATION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND PREPAREDNESS
Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller

43. Forcibly displaced persons - Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Léo Heller
Beyond "life-saving"
Beyond camps
Beyond emergency situations