A/67/270
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe
drinking water and sanitation
Summary
The Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation,
Catarina de Albuquerque, submits the present report to the General Assembly in
accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 16/2. In the report, the Special
Rapporteur argues for a post-2015 development agenda that integrates equality and
non-discrimination, paired with equity. The report emphasizes the importance of
proposing goals, targets and indicators that effectively encompass these dimensions. The
human right to water and sanitation serves as an exemplary illustration of the importance
of these human rights principles. The inclusion of equality and non-discrimination
considerations in the design and implementation of policies and programmes benefits
the most marginalized members of society and those most discriminated against.
They also contribute to the reduction of gaps in access to fundamental services
around the world. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur underlines the need to ensure
that water, sanitation and hygiene are considered on equal footing with other
priorities, by devoting a specific goal to these areas for the post-2015 framework.
Contents
Page
I.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
II.
Development, global monitoring and human rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
A.
The need for global monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
B.
The power of data: delivering on what is measured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
C.
Water, sanitation and hygiene in the global development framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
Integrating equality and non-discrimination in the post-2015 framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
III.
A.
Remedying inequality as the most significant blind spot in the Millennium Development
Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
The way forward: integrating equality and non-discrimination into goals, targets and
indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12
Goals, targets and indicators for water, sanitation and hygiene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15
A.
Focusing on progressive realization while reducing inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
B.
Address geographical inequalities: rural/urban disparities and slums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
C.
Focus on inequities, shedding light on the poorest of the poor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
D.
Address group-related inequalities that vary across countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
E.
Address individual-related inequalities relevant in every country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
Conclusions and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
B.
IV.
V.
2
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