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Celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the recognition of the human rights to water and sanitation
Tuesday, 7 July 2020
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Virtual (New York Time)

Side Event

Co-organizers: Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Co- sponsors : Permanent Missions of Germany and Spain to the United Nations , UN-Water

Objectives:
  • To highlight the importance and impact of the recognition of the human rights to water and sanitation in 2010
  • To take stock of the 10-year progress made in relation to the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation
  • To identify a possible roadmap to further promote human rights to water and sanitation, strengthening collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the UN-Water community
  • Background:
    The year 2020 marks the tenth anniversary of the landmark resolution adopted by the General Assembly in July 2010, which “recognized the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights” (GA res 64/292). Since then, a number of subsequent resolutions adopted by the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly gave further affirmation and clarified the human rights to water and sanitation as fundamental human rights. Furthermore, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015, included a specific reference to the human right to water and sanitation.

    Given that 2020 is also the last year of the mandate of the current Special Rapporteur (Mr. Léo Heller), this is an opportune moment to take stock of the impact of the recognition of water and sanitation as human rights in the WASH sector and beyond, and to reflect together how these rights could be better promoted and integrated in the overall efforts by UN and other partners to accelerate the human rights-based implementation of SDG6 and other related goals.

    Speakers:
  • Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations- Opening remarks
  • Mr. Léo Heller, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation- 10 years after General Assembly resolution 64/292: impact and shortcomings of efforts for the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation.
  • Mr. Olcay Ünver, Vice-Chair of UN-Water Multilateral cooperation and the rights to water and sanitation- current challenges and roadmap for the 2020-2030 decade.
  • Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque, CEO of Sanitation and Water for All, former Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation- The mandate of the Special Rapporteur vis-à-vis the water and sanitation sector: proposals for increased cooperation.
  • Ms. Peggy Hicks, Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights- The impact of General Assembly resolution 64/292: 10 years promoting a human-rights based approach to water and sanitation.
  • Ms. Amanda Klasing, acting Co-Director, Women's Rights Division- Water and sanitation as human rights: a critical assessment of international efforts for the implementation of SDG 6.
  • Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations
  • Closing remarks
  • How to participate:
    In order to register for the event and receive the link, please write to Mr. Pascal Garde at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: pgarde@ohchr.org
    United Nations