The MDGs and the human rights to water and sanitation 2010, para. 14

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Paragraph text: Human rights require that such national target-setting be undertaken with reference to an objective assessment of the national priorities and resource constraints within each country. This, in essence, is the meaning of the term "progressive realization", as enshrined in article 2(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. States parties are under the obligation to progressively realize the rights to water and sanitation to the maximum of their available resources. States are required to move towards the goal of full realization as expeditiously and effectively as possible, within available resources and within the framework of international cooperation and assistance, where needed. This implies that all States - including those that have already reached the global Millennium Development Goal target - must continue to take steps to ensure the full realization of the human rights to sanitation and water. Reaching the Millennium Development Goal target must not be used as a justification for falling short of achieving universal access. In the process of achieving universal access, the Goals may provide relevant medium-term national benchmarks.

Body: Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation

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