In Historic Vote, U.N. Declares Water Is A Human Right

Score one big victory for basic decency. This morning, for the first time ever, the United Nations General Assembly voted to affirm that clean water and sanitation should be everyone's fundamental human right.

You'd think that would be obvious, since we all need water to survive. But no, right up until today, it was unclear what would happen with this historic vote.

That's why it was so important that more than 4,000 Change.org users helped pressure U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice to stop getting in the way.

Of course, it would be too much to ask for the U.S. vote for in favor of this new human right, but after a very active lobbying campaign to block the proposal, the U.S. abstention is a victory in this case.  In the end, 124 states voted in favor of the Bolivian-sponsored measure and 40 others, including Canada, abstained, according to Food & Water Watch. No states voted against it.

"This is a historic day and I think every now and then, the human species advances somewhat in our evolution and today was one of them," said Maude Barlow, Food & Water Watch's board chair and a former senior U.N. water adviser.

This victory is a huge step forward after years of growing momentum on the water rights issue. It will be crucial to assuring everyone's most basic needs are met as the water crisis deepens. These days, thirteen percent of the world's population lacks clean water access and 40 percent is without basic sanitation (as you read this, 1 child will die every 8 seconds from a water-related disease.)

And, in the future, as global warming sets in and pollution and overpopulation get worse, clean water will become an ever more scarce, expensive 'commodity.'  That's why the language of human rights will become an important weapon to protect and improve access for the world's poorest. While it's not binding, the text calls for more foreign aid and cooperation and paves the way for a treaty that could legally compel nations to put people's basic needs for life ahead of more frivolous interests.

Take for example, the situation of the Bushmen of the Kalahari, who have survived for thousands of years in one of the driest spots on the planet. The Botswanan government capped their well, and, just last week, a judge ruled they have no right to access it or drill another. The government wants to use water to evict them from their home Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Nearby, tourists swim in a new lodge complete with swimming pool.

Situations like this demand we pressure governments to respect the Bushmen's right to water. With the U.N. resolution, now advocates have the official langauge on the global stage to make this case.

Thanks to everyone who joined Food & Water Watch's campaign here on Change.org. The next step, on the international stage, is to work towards a legally binding international water rights treaty. For this to happen, the U.S. will need to come around for real this time and actually support the movement, rather than being guided by its irrational fears of more entanglements in the developing world.

So it's good if we keep signing this petition to continue to pressure the U.S. to take a more supportive stance as water rights issues continue to crop up.

Photo Credit: Jenny Downing

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