Join the Global Week of Action for the Human Right to Water and Sanitation

Sample Letter
Use the sample letter below to tell your government to support the human right to water and sanitation. Mail, fax, or email your message today!

Take Action:

• Tell your government to support the human right to water.
• Contact your U.N. representatives.
• Ask your elected officials to sign a statement in support of the resolution.
• Use these talking points to respond to any questions about the issue.
• Sign the Open Letter supporting the human right to water and sanitation.
• Issue a press release to raise awareness of the upcoming vote.

Read the draft resolution:
July 26, 2010 »

Read a letter to all UN Missions from Maude Barlow, Former Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the United National General Assembly

Para version en español, haga click aqui

An International Overview of the Right to Water and Sanitation

International Declarations and Recommendations on Water and Sanitation, courtesy of Ashfaq Khalfan

Download phone, fax, and email contacts for UN Missions.

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In Canada? Send an email to the Canadian government asking them support Water as a human right!

Dear [insert Head of State or other responsible party]

I am writing to express my support for the United Nations resolution on the human right to water and sanitation that is currently being considered by the UN General Assembly.

I urge you to show your support for this resolution by signing the Open Statement from Elected Representatives to the Member States of the UN General Assembly; Support for the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. As you may know, an historic UN General Assembly resolution titled "The Human Right to Water and Sanitation" has been officially tabled by at least 26 co-sponsoring member states and the government of Bolivia. The date set for UN member states to consider this resolution is Wednesday, July 28, 2010.

It is encouraging to hear that many countries, particularly from the Global South, have signed on as co-sponsors. However, it is disheartening to hear that several "water-rich" and developed countries including Canada, the U.S., and the UK still do not recognize the human right to water and sanitation. The world cannot wait for these states to change their positions -- too many people are suffering. Your state's support for this resolution will have a positive impact when countries take this historic vote on July 28.

International activists have been calling for this resolution for more than a decade. As you probably know, the core international legal documents on the human right to water and sanitation include the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (as interpreted by General Comment 15 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Based on these documents, it is clear that most member states of the United Nations are already bound by the human right to water and sanitation through either domestic law or international legal instruments. This statement of political will by the General Assembly is something that is long overdue.

A General Assembly resolution signals the importance and priority of this issue to all levels of governments, UN specialized agencies, donor governments, aid agencies, affected peoples and communities, as well as the global community.

Please show your commitment to securing water and sanitation for the 1.2 billion people without access to clean water and the 2.6 billion without access to basic sanitation by co-sponsoring and voting for this historic resolution.

Sincerely,

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