A/HRC/RES/33/10
that warrant distinct treatment in order to address specific challenges in their
implementation, that sanitation too often remains neglected if not addressed as a separate
right, and that both rights are components of the right to an adequate standard of living,
Recalling also that the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation are derived
from the right to an adequate standard of living and are inextricably related to the right to
the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and to the right to life and
human dignity,
Reaffirming the importance of eliminating discrimination and inequalities in the
enjoyment of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation on the grounds of race,
gender, age, disability, ethnicity, culture, religion and national or social origin or on any
other grounds, and with a view to eliminating discrimination and inequalities based on
factors such as rural-urban disparities, substandard housing, income levels or other relevant
considerations,
Affirming the importance of national programmes and policies in ensuring the
progressive realization of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation,
Affirming also the importance of regional and international technical cooperation,
where appropriate, as a means to promote the progressive realization of the human rights to
safe drinking water and sanitation, without any prejudice to questions of international water
law, including international watercourse law,
Recognizing the important role that civil society plays at the local, national, regional
and international levels in facilitating the achievement of the purposes and principles of the
United Nations, fundamental freedoms and human rights, including the human rights to
safe drinking water and sanitation,
Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the
council, and 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for special procedure mandate holders of the
Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his or her
duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,
1.
Welcomes the recognition by the General Assembly of the human rights to
safe drinking water and sanitation as components of the right to an adequate standard of
living and essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life and all human rights;
2.
Also welcomes the recognition by the General Assembly that the human right
to safe drinking water entitles everyone, without discrimination, to have access to
sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and
domestic use, and that the human right to sanitation entitles everyone, without
discrimination, to have physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life,
that is safe, hygienic, secure, socially and culturally acceptable and that provides privacy
and ensures dignity, while reaffirming that both rights are components of the right to an
adequate standard of living;
3.
Affirms that the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation are closely
related, but have features that warrant distinct treatment in order to address specific
challenges in their implementation, while recognizing the relevance of all previous Human
Rights Council resolutions on the topic and the importance of the work of the previous and
current Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation;
4.
Takes note with appreciation of the annual report of the Special Rapporteur
submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirtieth session on access to affordable water
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