Major contributions supporting a human right to water

Date

Conferences:

The Mar del Plata (Argentina) United Nations Conference on Water was the first and only intergovernmental conference devoted exclusively to water; a milestone in the history of water development

1977

Convention on the Elimination of Al Forms of Discrimination Against Women

1979

The Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development

1992

Earth Summit in Rio, Agenda 21 global action plan, chapter regarding water and the need to protect basins and formulate long-term planning regarding fresh water

1992

Heads of State and Government meeting at Habitat II Conference, Committee on Economic, Social, Cultural Rights

1996

Comprehensive assessment of the world's fresh water resources and discussion of "basic needs" including water for people and ecology presented to UN General Assembly under UN Commission on Sustainable Development

1997

6^th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 6), 22 December 1997 and 20 April - 01 May 1998, New York

1997-1998

International Conference on Water and Sustainable Development March 19-21, 1998 UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, UNESCO and International Institute on Sustainable Development

1998

Water Resources, Human Rights and Governance, February 26-March 2, Nepal

2001

Water for People and Nature: A Forum on Conservation and Human Rights, The Council of Canadians July 5-8, Vancouver

2001

International Conference on Freshwater from 3-7, December 2001 in Bonn, Germany, aiming to build on the freshwater-related objectives identified in Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 (including a focus on "Innovative Strategies for Water and Sanitation for the Poor: Access & Affordability")

2001

Constitutions

South Africa Bill of Rights

1994

Covenants, Declarations, International Agreements and Resolutions:

Universal Declaration on Human Rights, UN

1948

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, UN

1966

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, UN

1966

"World Water Day" as passed in resolutions, UN

1980 & 1992

1980s declared to be the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade, UN

1981-1990

Declaration on the Right to Development, UN

1986

American Convention on Human Rights on in the Area of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

1988

InterAmerican Convention on Human Rights: Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights "Protocol of San Salvador (A-52), 1988 (original: American Convention on Human Rights "Pact of San Jose, Costa Rica" (B-32), 1969)

1988

Convention of the Rights of the Child, UN

1989

European Convention on Human Rights, Council of Europe

1989

African Charter On The Rights and Welfare of The Child. Adopted by The Twenty-sixth Ordinary Session Of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of OAU,Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Article XIV: Health & Health Services; c. "To ensure the provision of adequate nutrition and safe drinking water."

1990

Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses stating that in event of an international conflict between uses "vital human needs" retain primacy, even over essential "economic development" needs -- statement of understanding defined vital needs including drinking water and that for production of food for survival

1997

United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the United Nations Millennium Assembly

2000

Rulings: (as noted in the 2000 resolution on "Right to Water" of the European Council of Environmental Law)

European Court of Human Rights against deprivation of access to a well used for drinking water

Inter-American Court of Human Rights against the pollution of a tributary serving as water supply for the Yanaomanis