Urgent Action needed to protect the Human Right to Water and Sanitation!

As you read this, The United Nations’ historic 2010 recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation is coming under severe threat from a number of governments at the United Nations who want to see the recognition disappear. Canada is one of the countries leading this assault by pushing for the removal of any mention of the recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation from the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20, Earth Summit) negotiating text which will frame the discussions at the Rio + 20 conference in June.

The Independent UN Expert on water and sanitation herself has stated that the international human rights standard on water and sanitation agreed at the UN must guide the negotiations at the Rio+20 and the post-2015 development goals. Meanwhile, we hear reports from water activists on the ground in New York who are participating in this week’s informal discussions on the negotiating text that a group of countries led by Canada are attempting to have this language removed.

Please take this quick action by sending a letter to Canada’s mission at the United Nations demanding that as members of the United Nations they meet their international obligations to respect, protect and fulfill the Human Right to Water and Sanitation! Or, call or fax Canada’s mission to the United Nations directly and insist that they cease their assault on this historic recognition.

Below you will find a sample letter that you can use and adapt adapted from a letter drafted by the Council of Canadians and sent to the Canadian Mission on behalf of Civil Society organizations.

Here is the contact information for the Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations:

E-mail: canada.un@international.gc.ca
US Telephone: (1) 212-848-1100
US Fax: (1) 212-848-1195, -1192, -1128