The Right to Water and Sanitation

« Given that acces to water is a condition of survival, we affirm that all persons have the right to sufficient supplies of water to meet their essential needs. Consequently, priority must be given to the billion and a half people who do not have access to drinking water.

The right to drinking water and sanitation cannot be dissociated from other human rights. It cannot be subject to discrimination and implies a respect for everyone. We must ensure that water supply and sanitation are managed equitably and efficiently, using durable systems, and in such a way as to strengthen the autonomy of the populations concerned. »

Extract of the declaration of the Montreal Charter, 1990


While the «Right to Water» was one of the key themes of work undertaken during the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico, the term «Right to Water» is nowhere to be found in the ministerial resolutions and declarations emanating from the Forum.

This clearly shows that we have not achieved unanimity in our aim to make the right to water and sanitation a priority, and we must continue to work in a much more coordinated manner and simultaneously on three levels:
  • At an international level to have the right to water recognised in conventions, treaties and agreements among States, regional action plans etc.
  • At a national level to have the right to water recognised in national legislation and to ensure that implementation policies concerning access for all to water and sanitation (decentralisation, funding, regulation, arbitration etc.) be specified.
  • At local level in Central Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, in order to increase access to services and to involve users and citizens as responsible partners with rights and responsibilities.

In 2007, while remaining available at national and international level, the ISW and SWE, with their local partners, stepped up the installation of services for access to drinking water and sanitation. Alongside actions in the field, we will develop indicators that will make it possible to measure actual progress towards achieving the right to  water.

For instance:

  • Equitable access to water and sanitation: quantity and percentage of coverage; access of the poor and groups living in precarious conditions; improvement of the situation of women as regards access to services etc.,
  • Affordable, appropriate and sustainable levels of service in terms of the quantity of water provided per day, the cost per inhabitant and coverage of operation and maintenance costs,
  • Participation of the populations and/or communities in decision-making: choice of systems, funding, level of service, tariffs, system management,
  • The facilitation role of public institutions: legal framework, financial and technical support.