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The independent expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, submitted her report to the Human Rights Council in accordance with Council resolution 7/22 on Thursday 17 September 2009.

The report focuses on the human rights obligations related to sanitation. After reviewing the inextricable links between sanitation and a range of human rights, the independent expert concluded that an analysis of sanitation in a human rights context must go beyond linking it to other human rights, because this would fail to fully capture all of the dimensions of sanitation. She suggested that, although there is an ongoing discussion on whether sanitation should be recognized as a distinct right, recent developments at the international, regional and national levels demonstrate a trend towards recognition; specifically, considering the right to sanitation as an explicit component of the right to an adequate standard of living.

While opinions may differ on whether to recognize sanitation as a distinct right, the independent expert asserts that there are clear human rights obligations related to sanitation because it is inextricably linked to, and indispensable for, the realization of many other human rights. She outlined a definition of sanitation in human rights terms, and explained the human rights obligations related to sanitation, as well as the content of those obligations. The report (see below) ends with conclusions and recommendations.

The report, including a summary the findings, analysis and recommendations can be seen here.

Human Rights Council appoints Independent Expert

HRC Water and Sanitation Update (07.11.2008)

The Human Rights Council has appointed Catarina de Albuquerque as the Independent Expert on human rights obligations related to safe drinking water and sanitation. Miss De Albuquerque started work on 1 November 2008.

Read her biography on the The Human Rights Council's website

The following constitutes her mandate in the respective resolution of the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/7/L.16):

(a) To develop a dialogue with Governments, the relevant United Nations bodies, the private sector, local authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic institutions, to identify, promote and exchange views on best practices related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and, in that regard, to prepare a compendium of best practices;

(b) To advance the work by undertaking a study, in cooperation with and reflecting the views of Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, and in further cooperation with the private sector, local authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic institutions, on the further clarification of the content of human rights obligations, including non-discrimination obligations, in relation to access to safe drinking water and sanitation;

(c) To make recommendations that could help the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular of Goal 7;

(d) To apply a gender perspective, including through the identification of gender-specific vulnerabilities;

(e) To work in close coordination, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with other special procedures and subsidiary organs of the Council, relevant United Nations bodies and the treaty bodies, and taking into account the views of other stakeholders, including relevant regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic institutions;

Find out more

Miss De Albuquerque can be contacted at: iewater@ohchr.org

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Find out more, download an information note and read the legal basis

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Download Why Canada must recognise the human right to water and sanitation

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