Sustainability and non-retrogression in the realisation of the rights to water and sanitation 2013, para. 30
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Cuts to public spending particularly affect the poorest and most marginalized, who tend to receive a higher proportion of their income from social security benefits, rely heavily on public services, and spend a higher proportion of their income on basic services. Decreases in social spending lead to decreasing social subsidies, which hitherto enabled people to access to affordable water and sanitation. Thus people may be confronted with the dilemma of having to choose between food, water and medicine, which undermines the realization of their human rights.
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Non-negotiated soft law
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Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation