A/65/254
Report of the independent expert on the issue of human rights
obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation,
Catarina de Albuquerque
Summary
The independent expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to
access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, submits the
present report to the General Assembly in accordance with Human Rights Council
resolution 12/8. In the report, the independent expert focuses on how human rights,
in particular the human rights to water and sanitation, can make a contribution to the
realization of the Millennium Development Goals, with a particular focus on
target 7.C. She begins with a short summary of the history and defining attributes of
the Millennium Development Goals and analyses their potential to help progressively
realize economic, social and cultural rights. She continues by examining how human
rights can address a number of gaps in the Millennium Development Goal framework
relating to universal access, international cooperation and assistance, the formulation
of targets and indicators and aligning them with human rights standards,
non-discrimination and specific attention to the most marginalized and disadvantaged
groups, participation, promoting intersectoral approaches and accountability. The
final section of the report contains conclusions and recommendations.
Contents
Page
I.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
II.
History and promise of the Millennium Development Goals, including Goal 7 . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
III.
The contributions of human rights to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals,
particularly Goal 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
A.
The notion of progressive realization of universal access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
B.
International cooperation and assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
C.
Aligning targets and indicators with human rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
D.
Looking beyond averages: non-discrimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
E.
Participation and empowerment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
F.
Intersectoral approaches and addressing root causes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
G.
Strengthening accountability at national and global levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
Conclusions and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
IV.
2
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