A/HRC/33/49
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
27 July 2016
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-third 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
Note by the Secretariat
The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of
the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, prepared
pursuant to Council resolutions 16/2 and 21/2. In the report, the Special Rapporteur focuses
on gender equality in the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation.
Gender equality is a fundamental human rights principle, yet inequalities between
men and women, and on the basis of gender identity, are observed in all countries and often
translate into unequal opportunities and grave human rights violations. The Special
Rapporteur explains that a transformative approach is a prerequisite for ultimately
achieving gender equality in the enjoyment of the human rights to water and sanitation.
This approach requires challenging social norms, stereotypes and intra-household patterns,
while also promoting gender-responsive interventions that prioritize the implementation of
women’s specific needs. At the same time, the Special Rapporteur indicates that tackling
the material and structural determinants of gender inequalities in access to water, sanitation
and hygiene could serve as an entry point to address gender inequality more broadly.
The Special Rapporteur seeks to highlight areas that need particular attention in
order to prevent and respond to gender inequalities in access to water and sanitation, as well
as gender-based violence and barriers to the realization of the human rights to water and
sanitation.
GE.16-13009(E)