2. MDG target on water
In 2012, the MDG
target on water
had been reached.
But …
Still around 800 million
people worldwide lack
access to an improved
drinking water source.
Water quality is not
monitored.
Disparities among rich
and poor, rural and
urban, informal and
formal settlements.
3. MDG Target on Sanitation
Sanitation is one of the most
off-track targets of the MDGs.
2.5 billion people do not
have access to improved
sanitation, 70 per cent of
which live in rural areas.
Around 1 billion people
practice open defecation.
1.6 million people, mostly
children under the age of 5,
die each year from water
and sanitation-related
diseases.
4. Striking Inequalities in Access: Urban-Rural
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1990 2010
All water
infrastructure+surface
water
All water infrastructure
Improved water sources
Safe water sources
safe water sources that is
within 30mins of home
safe water sources at home
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1990 2010
All water
infrastructure+surface
water
All water infrastructure
Improved water sources
Safe water sources
safe water sources that is
within 30mins of home
safe water sources at
home
Urban Rural
Urban-Rural disparities (2010) (source WHO-UNICEF)
Improved water: 93% vs. 44%, safe water at home: 45% vs. 0.2%
7. Legal basis for the human rights to water
and sanitation
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art.
25(1))
International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (art. 11)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (art.
24(2)(h))
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (art. 14(2)(h))
Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (art. 18 (2)(a))
UN General Assembly and Human Rights
Council resolutions 292/64 and 15/9,
respectively
Human Rights Council resolution 24/41
affirmed the normative content of the HR to
water and sanitation
8. Equality and non-discrimination:
Everyone is equal before the law; prohibition of arbitrary differences of treatment
Participation and inclusion:
Every person is entitled to active, free and meaningful participation in and contribution
to decision-making processes affecting them
Accountability and the rule of law:
State and other duty-bearers should be accountable for the fulfilment of their
obligations
Human rights-based approach:
key elements
9. What is the Human Right to Water and
Sanitation?
The human right to water entitles
everyone to sufficient, safe,
acceptable, physically accessible
and affordable water for personal
and domestic uses.
The human right to sanitation
entitles everyone, without
discrimination, to physical and
affordable access to sanitation, in all
spheres of life, which is safe, hygienic,
secure, socially and culturally
acceptable, which provides privacy
and dignity.
10. Normative content of the rights to water
and sanitation
AVAILABILITY: sufficient and continuous for personal and
domestic uses; within immediate vicinity
QUALITY: safe for consumption and other personal uses;
hygienically and technically safe to use
ACCESSIBILITY: to everyone without discrimination, within the
immediate vicinity
AFFORDABILITY: price must be affordable for all without
compromising the ability to secure other essential necessities
guaranteed by human rights
ACCEPTABILITY: culturally acceptable and gender-specific, and
to ensure privacy and dignity
11.
12. 1 ¿Qué es el acceso a la justicia?
Los Estados tienen la obligación de realizar los
derechos humanos al agua y al saneamiento y
se puede exigir su responsabilidad por el
cumplimiento de dicha obligación.
El derecho de acceso a la justicia es
indispensable para poner en práctica este
principio fundamental.
las personas pueden denunciar supuestas
violaciones a los derechos humanos ante
órganos independientes e imparciales.
13. 1.1 Fundamentos legales
Los derechos humanos al A&S son componentes
del derecho humano a un nivel de vida adecuado
(Pacto Internacional de Derechos Económicos,
Sociales y Culturales).
Comité de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y
Culturales (CDESC), Observación general Nº 15
“Toda persona o grupo que haya sido víctima de una
violación del derecho al agua deberá contar con
recursos judiciales o de otro tipo efectivos tanto en el
plano nacional como en el internacional”.
“Todas las víctimas de las violaciones del derecho al
agua deberán tener derecho a una reparación
adecuada”.
La Observación general Nº 15 se aplica igualmente
al derecho humano al saneamento.
14. 1.2 Las dimensiones del acceso a la justicia
La obligación de respetar (desconexiones,
acceso a fuentes de agua, contaminación,
reducción cuantidad)
La obligación de proteger (prevención de
violaciones…cambio de proveedores)
La obligación de cumplir (universalización…)
No discriminación e igualdad
Participación
Obligaciones extraterritoriales
15.
16. 3 Cómo hacer para que el acceso a la
justicia sea eficaz
Todos los mecanismos de rendición de cuentas
deben resolver las denuncias de manera
inmediata, expeditiva, eficaz, imparcial e
independiente.
Los recursos deben ser accesibles, asequibles,
oportunos o rápidos y eficaces.
17. 3.1 Cómo superar los obstáculos al acceso a la
justicia
Acceso a la información.
Accesibilidad física.
Asequibilidad
Servicios jurídicos
Otros obstáculos
Barreras sociales que enfrentan las mujeres.
No familiaridad con regulaciones y tradiciones
de los tribunales.
Dependencia económica de personas o grupos
que violan los derechos.
Miedo a represalias, discriminación o
estigmatización (privacidad y anonimato)
18. 3.2 ¿Qué se requiere para garantizar el acceso a
la justicia?
Expertise y capacitación.
Independencia, imparcialidad, transparencia y
rendición de cuentas.
Toma de decisiones en forma inmediata y
oportuna.
Procesos y decisiones comprensibles.
Interpretación del derecho nacional en
consonancia con el derecho internacional.
Los tribunales y los organismos de derechos
humanos deben evaluar si el Estado ha
utilizado el máximo de recursos disponibles.
19. 3.3 Recursos apropiados y eficaces
Diseño de recursos apropiados, incluso
recursos sistemáticos.
Cómo garantizar el cumplimiento de las
sentencias.
20. Rights to water and sanitation – what do
they mean in practice?
Do States have to implement these rights
overnight?
Do States have to provide access directly?
Is everyone entitled to piped water and a flush toilet
connected to a sewerage network?
Do States have to provide services free of charge?
Do human rights contribute to providing access to
water and sanitation?
