Water:
A Human Right

Prerequisite for peace

Human rights protect all people from political, legal and social abuses.We have rights based on natural human dignity, regardless of ethnicity, nationality or sex.

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “The recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of allmembers of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

20 Litres Every Day...
The Bare Minimum

“Access to safe water is a fundamental human need and, therefore, a basic human right. Contaminated water jeopardizes both the physical and social health of all people. It is an affront to human dignity.”

Kofi Annan,
UN Secreatary-General

On World Water Day 2001 the UN Secretary-General challenged the world to solve the water crisis, and the UNDP responded: world governments must make 20 litres of fresh, clean water every day a universal human right ­ as 20 litres is the minimum a person needs to live. Our lack of progress is obvious. In many countries masses of people still have access to less than 20 litres, or drink dirty water containing faeces, pesticides or other poisons. Also, where safe sources do exist, they are only available to those who can pay. To fill a container can cost between US $0.25 and $1.25, so for the 660million people who live on only $2 a day, buying water is simply not possible.

If water is not recognized as a human right, these situations will continue indefinitely. The time to make water a human right is now, and this will not be achieved without total global commitment. If everyone’s rights to water and sanitation were respected, a ripple effect of health and development would spread around the world.

Denied My Right
to CleanWater

In my home of Mushin, a suburb in Lagos, Nigeria, there is rarely water in the taps. My family and I have to purchase water from water collectors. Every day we spend about 150 Naira (US $1) to fill an 80-litre container. People living in the mainly poor neighbourhoods are not as lucky. Instead of being in school, many poverty stricken children spend hours each day collecting water for their families. I’ve watched kids taking water from leaking pipes and gutters.

The local government is only paying lip service to this demeaning situation: they construct boreholes (deep, narrow holes in the ground where we sometimes can find water), but they stop working after two or three weeks. I have been hospitalized twice because I drank water from a borehole. I need water to live, but all I get is tainted water. I have a right to clean water and I am denied it. Why?

We, as youth, need to create awareness about the importance of clean water and sanitation. We must change our mindsets, attitudes and habits to be proactive. Together we must work to see that water is recognized as a human right and that funding is increased to make water clean and safe, not only for ourselves, but for all future generations.

Francis Anyaegbu, Nigeria

Samadhee Malalasekera

Cans of Silver

Every morning
yawning
she suffers
desiring mouthwash
with fluoride wafers.
With great caution
she tips
the cracked plastic bucket
like
a can full of silver.

Or
turning aside.
In silence
surrounded by chores
needing water
in abundance.
Parched spirit, dry hopes
Desperate mother
tracing
water for broth.
Cost leaves
unwashed dishes, skin.
Can you just look on
and swim in a world of silver?

Charles Sendegeya, Uganda