The MDGs and the human rights to water and sanitation 2010, para. 19

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Paragraph text: While States have the primary legal obligation for the realization of human rights domestically, all States have responsibilities to create an enabling environment for human rights realization. There are a number of legal obligations associated with economic, social and cultural rights, including the rights to water and sanitation, which, subject to certain important qualifications, are to be discharged within the framework of international cooperation. States failing to meet their obligations by reason of legitimate resource constraints are required to call upon international assistance, and the international community has a responsibility to respond, whether bilaterally or collectively, through financial aid, technical assistance or other appropriate measures. The Human Rights Council has recognized the important role of international cooperation and assistance played by the United Nations, development and donor agencies, and stresses that more should be done to support States in their efforts to address the lack of access to sanitation. The Council has also urged development partners to adopt a human rights based approach when designing development programmes in support of national initiatives relating to sanitation (see Council resolution 12/8 (para. 6)). The logic of these recommendations applies equally to water.

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

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Person(s) affected