UN Special Rapporteur Catarina de Albuquerque issued an open letter to States participating in the upcoming Rio+20 negotiations, calling on them to fully recognize the human right to water and sanitation.
Noting the "mixed messages" sent in the third and final round of informal informal consultations, she said an outcome that does not maintain support of the right to water and sanitation will not result in the “future we all want.”
6 June 2012: The UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, issued an open letter to States participating in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), calling on them to fully support the human right to water and sanitation in the Rio+20 outcome.
De Albuquerque noted that the third and final round of “informal informal” negotiations on the outcome document sent mixed messages, with some States trying to “reinterpret or dilute” the human right to water and sanitation. She emphasized that the human right to water and sanitation is a recognized human right under international law, including in outcomes of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).
De Albuquerque stressed that States should set targets for water and sanitation for all, in particular to address the needs of the most vulnerable. She said an outcome that does not maintain support of the right to water and sanitation will not result in the “future we all want.” [UN Press Release]