A/HRC/30/39
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
5 August 2015
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirtieth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe
drinking water and sanitation
Summary
Access to affordable water and sanitation services is crucial for the realization of the
human rights to water and sanitation. Yet, the issue of affordability does not always receive
the attention it deserves. The present report seeks to address this gap and to define
affordability from the perspective of human rights. It discusses the importance of setting
concrete standards to determine affordability, including for those populations that do not
receive formal services. It puts affordability in the broader context of ensuring
environmental and economic sustainability, and discusses the impact of disconnections as a
result of inability to pay. The report discusses who benefits from public financing in current
practice, and then considers a variety of different mechanisms to ensure affordability of
services for all through public financing and devising appropriate tariff schemes, including
their advantages and challenges. Finally, the report discusses the importance of regulating
and monitoring affordability before providing conclusions and recommendations.
GE.15-13098(E)
*1513098*