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UK government recognises the human right to water!
On the 9th November 2006 the UK government formally recognised that water is a basic human right.
This follows a longstanding campaign amongst groups in the UK and Blue October, a month of global action, during which WDM supporters have been campaigning in solidarity with groups in the south to get the recognition of the right to water. Across the UK activists signed ‘water droplets’ supporting the right to water. At the end of the October these droplets alongside a letter from WDM were sent to the UK government.
In addition WDM supporters took part in an online action to email Margaret Beckett and Hilary Benn.
WDM welcomes the UK supporting the human right to water. But now the UK government needs to translate this commitment into action across all its policies.
Turning the right to water into a reality for everyone can only happen through increased levels of public finance and support for capacity-building within the public sector. The UK has continued to support public-private partnerships in the water sector, whilst ignoring the potential of public-public partnerships and the expertise within Southern public water providers. This needs to change.
What does the UK government mean when it says it supports the human right to water?
It is a right that entitles everyone to sufficient, affordable, safe water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. The UK position does not prescribe any particular model or role for the public and private sectors.
What does WDM mean when it says it supports the human right to water?
- Affordable access to clean water for all
- Water to be locally, publicly and democratically owned and controlled in a transparent manner
- Prevention of governments, the private water industry, international financial institutions and others from interfering with the human right to water.
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