Dear colleagues,
The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights has announced a request for relevant information for the upcoming study on the human right to water.
The announcement can be found at: http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/water/index.htm
Along with the announcement are the resource materials that will help to guide your comments – see the bottom of the page, "useful links."
The request has a short timeline: April 15. This is the early stage of the process. There may be other opportunities to present information as the process unfolds. The UN OHCHR is asking for information about specific cases, general views, best practices, among other matters.
There is an emphasis on the impacts of privatization on the right to water. I urge you to consider also passing on this information and working with, other NGOs that may be active in indigenous rights, in the right to the environment, public health, the rights of children, the rights of women, the rights of people in humanitarian crisis, economic justice and labor rights.
Professor John Ruggie, the UN Special Representative on Human Rights and Business, in his recent report, makes the important point that all human rights are interconnected. Labor unions may consider a submittal on how the changes in the water sector has impacted on labor rights. The Special Representative’s report, and links to information on how to conduct a human rights impact assessment, can be found at: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Gettingstarted/UNSpecialRepresentative
I strongly encourage each of us to consider following the UN process, responding to the request for information, following our national government’s official responses to the UN OHCHR, and the regional human rights bodies responses.
For guidance on how to prepare a communication, the UN OHCHR NGO Handbook is helpful, with information, including examples, of how to address communications to the UN OHCHR. Please see: http://www.ohchr.org/english/about/publications/
There may be human rights NGOs who could partner to make a submittal. Academic institutions may be helpful. A broad coalition of groups from one country, or one issue area, may also be effective.
The UN processes are meant to be participatory. It is not necessary to have a sophisticated, legal opinion to communicate with the UN OHCHR.
The communication should be simple, to the point, reporting on human right to water problems, violations, the facts of a specific case, or views.
Please consider responding and posting communication to the internet, and passing along the link to our greater water justice community. If it is appropriate, UUSC is compiling a bibliography of materials on the right to water, and if you wish it to be included, pass the
link along.
Best wishes in your important work.
Sincerely,
Patricia Jones
UUSC Environmental Justice Manager
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