PHA-Exchange> Report back on Human Right to Water Sign-On

[Anil Naidoo]

Well done!...
 
165 Organizations from 45 countries signed the Human Right to Water Sign-on letter. With scores of individual signatories as well. 
 
This is very impressive, given the very tight timelines for sign-on - really only a couple of work days, so regrets to those who could not meet the deadline, but please still do sign-on if you can...
 
The declaration and signatories were sent to the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) yesterday, but I have been asked by the High Commissioner to put the statement into a PDF and resend it for inclusion on their website... and I will not be able to do this until tomorrow.
 
Even beyond this, we will still be distributing the complete list and final text to our networks in a couple of days and would be great for your organization to appear.
 
I regret not yet being able to have responded to all of your wonderful comments. Be assured, however, your constructive suggestions around the WTO and trade, pre-paid water meters, the role of the market etc. were mentioned, in my opening note to the Commissioner, as having been mentioned by groups and being strong points for her to consider, even though they are not explicitly included in the body of the declaration.
 
The individual submission from the Blue Planet Project - Council of Canadians is also very much focused on some of these issues and I will share that with you this week as well.
 
Again, many thanks to all, this is only one step of many we are taking together to assure water justice. 
 
All of our areas of struggle are linked and I hope that many will continue assisting in this campaign to ensure the water corporations, and the countries which support them, are not allowed to define and constrain the scope of the right to water. 
 
Much of this will be playing out at the UN Human Rights Council in September so it is probably a good idea for us to consider strategies to press those governments who sit on that Council...I have attached a list below, but let's talk more fully about this another time....
 
Very much looking forward to continuing to strengthen the links between health and water!
 
In Solidarity,
 
Anil Naidoo
Blue Planet Project
 
Algeria 	2007 
Argentina 	2007 
Azerbaijan 	2009 
Bahrain 	2007 
Bangladesh 	2009 
Brazil 	2008 
Cameroon 	2009 
Canada 	2009 
China 	2009 
Cuba 	2009 
Czech Republic 	2007 
Djibouti 	2009 
Ecuador 	2007 
Finland 	2007 
France 	2008 
Gabon 	2008 
Germany 	2009 
Ghana 	2008 
Guatemala 	2008 
India 	2007 
Indonesia 	2007 
Japan 	2008 
Jordan 	2009 
Malaysia 	2009 
Mali 	2008 
Mauritius 	2009 
Mexico 	2009 
Morocco 	2007 
Netherlands 	2007 
Nigeria 	2009 
Pakistan 	2008 
Peru 	2008 
Philippines 	2007 
Poland 	2007 
Republic of Korea 	2008 
Romania 	2008 
Russian Federation 	2009 
Saudi Arabia 	2009 
Senegal 	2009 
South Africa 	2007 
Sri Lanka 	2008 
Switzerland 	2009 
Tunisia 	2007 
Ukraine 	2008 
United Kingdom 	2008 

Uruguay 	2009 
Zambia 	2008 

 
________________________________

From: Anil Naidoo
Sent: Thu 12/04/2007 13:49
To: Anil Naidoo; water-warriors at foodandwaterwatch.org
Subject: Urgent - Human Right to Water Sign-On - Deadline April 15.


Dear Friends, 

 

Couple of notes about the sign-on... first thanks to all who have signed and to others, please reply by Sunday, April 15th.

 

Also, apologies that my spell-check changed Special Rapporteur to Special Reporter... please note that we are calling for a Special Rapporteur in the final paragraph.

 

Also, please find the Spanish translation below...

 

On the language, this is written in a language the UN can understand and for strategic reasons is not as direct as we like to be in our movement, I ask for your understanding regarding this point. Things like guidelines, rapporteurs, legal-instruments are all a bit confounding to us in the 'real' world fighting for water justice, but this is the audience for our intervention, so to be taken seriously, some accommodation has been made. 

 

The version below is cleaned up, the only substantive change is to add public control and a reference to sanitation. If your organization has endorsed the statement and has problems with referencing these concepts, please inform me directly - anil at canadians.org

 

Finally, if you would like more information on the context of where we want to go with this campaign I would suggest you read the Key Principles document and consider commenting on the draft at http://www.blueplanetproject.net/RightToWater/index.html - link is at the bottom, halfway through the list of resources.

 

This is just the beginning of the work we have to do if we are to make sure any move by governments is a step forward and not a step backwards in our struggle.

 

In Solidarity,

 

Anil Naidoo

Blue Planet Project

 

To Madame Louise Arbour, 

 

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,

 

Dear Madame High Commissioner,

 

We are encouraged that you have been asked to provide a report regarding the Human Right to Water (HRTW); to the Human Rights Council. Lack of access to clean water for hygiene and personal use is at a critical stage in many parts of the world. The growing crisis will be intensified by the sweeping effects of climate change. The continuing lack of access to basic sanitation for over half the world's people continues to lead to fatal disease and a lack of dignity. The time for action on both water and sanitation is well upon us.

 

A strong report from your office, pointing towards mechanisms for implementation of the human right to water and highlighting the importance of a rights-based approach in dealing with the water crisis, will have a major impact; both in how we interact with water and on future policy decisions of states and the international community.

 

The depth of the crisis cannot be overstated, Millions die needlessly and billions struggle daily with water scarcity and disease, loss of dignity and suffering that accompanies this avoidable scourge.

 

Governments have not invested the necessary political and financial resources to address this issue adequately, and the impacts are devastating. Strong and unambiguous affirmation of the HRTW may alleviate this deplorable lack of attention.

 

We hope your work complements that of the many organizations and activists around the world who continue the fight for water justice and sustainable solutions.

 

We, the undersigned international networks, civil society organizations and social movements, representing people from all corners of the world, coming from movements focused upon environmental, women's, labour, social justice, human rights, peasant and other struggles, bring the following points forward for consideration in your upcoming report to the UN Human Rights Council.

 

We assert that the HRTW exists through its implicit and explicit recognition in international treaties, declarations and customary law which bind all governments. It is engendered in several existing human rights instruments as a binding obligation on the Parties. Nevertheless, the failure of the existing instruments to deal with the HRTW explicitly and directly, has allowed several nations to incorrectly deny that such an obligation exists - underscoring the need for a new instrument. Your study and recommendations must provide the impetus for moving toward such a new instrument.

 

We request that all states move beyond simple recognition of the HRTW and develop comprehensive national plans to implement the HRTW, including making this right justiciable through appropriate national legislation.

 

We support General Comment 15, approved by the UN Economic and Social Council (November 2002), in which water is seen as 'indispensable for leading a life in human dignity' and a 'prerequisite for the realization of other human rights'. While General Comment 15 is a welcome and necessary step forward, it is not sufficient, in and of itself, to deal with the need for a new legally-binding instrument which will form the basis for moving towards implementation and full realization of the HRTW.

 

We urge the UN, through the Human Rights Council, to designate an appropriate UN administrative body to ensure, at all levels, adequate laws, policies, institutions, administrative procedures and practices and mechanisms of redress required realize the HRTW. These measures must be based on determined benchmarks to assess progress.

 

We understand that while governments remain the primary duty-bearers, non-state actors (including transnational corporations and international financial institutions) have been playing an increasingly powerful role in water; there have been resultant violations of the HRTW emanating from market-based approaches to water management. We therefore affirm that that all entities, public and private, must be held accountable to comply with the requirements of international law concerning the HRTW and subject to mechanisms providing appropriate redress and compensation to those harmed.

 

We assert that there can be no HRTW without comprehensive protection of the planet's ecosystem and hydrological cycle; linked to the HRTW is the right of all living things, and the earth, to have access to sufficient water; water is part of the global commons and a public trust, any international agreements on the HRTW must address these issues of environmental protection, sustainability and public control.

 

Finally, we call upon the Human Rights Council, as steps towards achieving these goals, to appoint a Special Rapporteur on Water and to move rapidly towards adoption of strong guidelines for states to follow in the implementation of the HRTW; each of which is a necessary condition towards the necessary implementation of an International Convention on the Human Right to Water.

 

Queridos amigos

 

Les pedimos una disculpa por avisarles con tan poco tiempo !

 

Favor de circular entre sus redes...

 

Como ustedes saben la Oficina del Alto Comisionado sobre Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas está llevando a cabo un estudio sobre el alcance y contenido del derecho humano al agua

 

Esta es una oportunidad para hacer que nuestras voces sean tomadas en cuenta por lo que les pedimos consideren adherirse como organización a la declaración que abajo mandamos. Esta declaración es un complemento de las presentaciones individuales que la OACDH recibirá y es realmente un vehículo para aquellos que no han tenido tiempo de hacer una presentación completa.

 

El tiempo otorgado para mandar las presentaciones fue muy corto -un poco más de dos semanas- y termina el Domingo 15 de abril, 2007

 

Anil va a presentar el documento y todas las firmas que recibamos hasta el 15 de Abril a través de water at ohchr.org <mailto:water at ohchr.org>  

 

Habrá otra oportunidad para presentar el documento con todas las firmas en Génova durante un evento  en Mayo cuando el Alto Comisionado esté celebrando una sesión de consulta...es por eso que si no puedes mandar tu adhesión o firma antes del 15 de abril, de cualquier manera manda tu adhesión.

 

Esta declaración no es tan completa como una presentación pero si permite destacar algunos temas importantes. Es incluso un poco diferente a otras pues tiene una finalidad estratégica específica.

 

Favor de firmarla y enviarla a anil at canadians.org <mailto:anil at canadians.org>  

 

Sugiero que la firma sea solo por organizaciones, especificando el país que representan, solo por el momento, pero puede tener una sección para individuos si hay suficiente interés.

Esperamos que muchos de ustedes se unan y apoyen ésta iniciativa e idealmente, hagan una presentación.

 

En solidaridad  

 

Blue Planet Project

 

 Va la declaración:

 

Para la Señora Louise Arbour, Alto Comisionado de los Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas 

 

Estimada Señora Alta Comisionada,

Con respecto al reporte sobre el Derecho Humano al Agua (DHA); estamos motivados por el hecho de que usted ha sido requerida para proveer al Consejo de Derechos Humanos con este. La falta de acceso a agua limpia para uso personal e higiénico está en una etapa crítica en muchas partes del mundo y la ya de por si creciente crisis se va a intensificar por los efectos dramáticos del cambio climático. La falta incesante de acceso a sanidad básica que padece la mitad de la población mundial sigue siendo un incentivo para enfermedades fatales y escasez de dignidad. El tiempo para actuar en estos dos asuntos, agua y sanidad, no puede esperar más! 

Un reporte sólido de parte de su oficina, señalando los mecanismos para implementar el DHA y destacando la importancia de un enfoque basado en el derecho sobre el trato de la crisis del agua, tendrá un impacto potencial mayor. Este impacto será en dos sentidos, uno en la forma en la que actuamos con nuestra agua y el otro en futuras decisiones políticas de parte de estados y la comunidad internacional. 

La profundidad de la crisis no puede desestimarse, millones de personas mueren innecesariamente y billones luchan incansablemente por sobrevivir debido la escasez de agua y la existencia de enfermedades, pérdida de dignidad y sufrimientos que acompañan este inevitable azote. 

Los gobiernos no han invertido los recursos necesarios, ambos, políticos y financieros, para tratar adecuadamente este asunto y los impactos son devastadores. Una afirmación sólida y clara sobre el  DHA puede aliviar ésta falta de atención. 

Esperamos que su trabajo complemente el de muchas organizaciones y activistas de todo el mundo que continúan la lucha por una justicia del agua y soluciones sustentables. 

Nosotros,  las redes internacionales firmantes, organizaciones de la sociedad civil de todos los rincones del mundo, representando movimientos enfocados en luchas ambientales, de mujeres, laborales, de justicia social, de derechos humanos, campesinos y muchas otras luchas, ponemos a su consideración los siguientes puntos para que sean tomados en cuenta en el reporte que próximamente usted presentará al Consejo de los Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas. 

Afirmamos que el DHA existe a través de su reconocimiento, implícita y explícitamente, en tratados internacionales, declaraciones y leyes ordinarias que obligan a todos los gobiernos. En muchos de los instrumentos de derechos humanos actuales el DHA ha sido engendrado como una obligación para las Partes. No obstante, el trato que muchos de éstos instrumentos dan al DHA, ha permitido que muchas naciones nieguen incorrectamente su existencia -subrayando la necesidad de un nuevo instrumento-. Su estudio y recomendaciones debe proveer el ímpetu que conduzca a ese nuevo instrumento. 

Solicitamos que todos los estados vayan más allá del simple reconocimiento del DHA y desarrollen planes nacionales comprensivos para implementarlo, haciendo que este derecho sea efectivo a través de una legislación nacional apropiada. 

Apoyamos el Comentario General número 15 aprobado por el Consejo Económico y Social de las Naciones Unidas (Noviembre 2002), en el cual el agua es vista como "indispensable para llevar una vida con dignidad humana" y un "prerrequisito para la realización de otros derechos humanos". Mientras el Comentario General 15 es un paso necesario y bienvenido hacia adelante, por si solo no es suficiente para resolver la necesidad de un nuevo instrumento vinculante que sentará las bases hacia la implementación y realización total del DHA. 

Exhortamos a las Naciones Unidas, a través del Consejo de Derechos Humanos, para que designe un cuerpo administrativo propio y apropiado, que asegure leyes, políticas, instituciones, procedimientos administrativos, y prácticas y mecanismos de reparación en todos los niveles, mismas que necesitan ser implementadas para hacer efectivo el DHA y están basadas en puntos de referencia determinados para medir su progreso. 

Entendemos que mientras los gobiernos permanecen como los principales cargadores de responsabilidad, actores no estatales (incluyendo corporaciones trasnacionales e instituciones financieras internacionales) han estado jugando un poderoso y creciente papel en relación al agua; como resultado, ha habido violaciones al DHA que emanan de enfoques mercantiles del manejo del agua. Por lo tanto, afirmamos  que todas las entidades, publicas y privadas, deben ser responsables de cumplir con los requerimientos de la ley internacional que concierne al DHA. Estas mismas entidades, deben someterse a mecanismos de reparación y compensación de todos aquellos que sean perjudicados. 

Afirmamos que no puede haber DHA sin una compresiva protección del ciclo hidrológico y el ecosistema del planeta; ligado al DHA es el derecho de todos los seres vivientes, y de la tierra, de tener acceso a agua suficiente; el agua es parte de los bienes comunes globales y bienes públicos, cualquier acuerdo internacional sobre el DHA debe tratar estos temas de protección ambiental y sustentabilidad. 

Finalmente, apelamos al Consejo de los Derechos Humanos, en tanto son tomados los pasos para lograr estos objetivos, para que designe a un Relator Especial sobre el agua y promueva con rapidez la adopción de directrices sólidas que deberán seguir los estados  en la implementación del DHA; cada uno de los cuales es una condición necesaria hacia la implementación de una Convención Internacional del Derecho Humano al Agua. 

Firmado;

 

Blue Planet Project - International

Council of Canadians - Canada

________________________________

From: water-warriors-bounces at fwwatch.org on behalf of Anil Naidoo
Sent: Wed 11/04/2007 02:19
To: waterjustice at tni.org; water-warriors at foodandwaterwatch.org
Subject: [Water-warriors] Urgent - Human Right to Water Sign-On - DeadlineFriday, Submitted Sunday.



Dear Friends,

 

As you know from posts to this list, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is undertaking a study on the scope and content of relevant human rights obligations on water. This is an opportunity to have our voices heard so I undertook to write a sign-on statement for all who might not have had the time to do a full submission and as a complement to the individual submissions which groups are doing. T

 

he deadline for submissions was very short - just over 2 weeks and ending  April 15th, 2007.

 

This sign-on is not as substantive as a full submission but it does allow highlighting of some key issues. It may change slightly as there are undoubtedly omissions, issues, or errors, but it should not change substantively so I hope you can sign on to this version.

 

Please consider signing and getting back to me at anil at canadians.org before Friday, end of day. Also any glaring issues with the sign-on to me, at the same address.

 

I am suggesting the sign-on is only for organizations, at this point, but could also have a section for individuals as well, if there is sufficient interest.

 

All for now, hope many are able to engage and support this initiative and  ideally, make a submission.

 

Apologies for not having this translated into other key languages, given the timelines I have to concede that this may not happen!

 

In Solidarity,

 

Anil

 

 

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