Derechos Humanos al Agua y al Saneamiento Acceso a la justicia
MDG target on water In 2012, the MDG target on water had been reached. But Still around 800 million people worldwide lack access to an improved drinking water source. Water quality is not monitored. Disparities among rich and poor, rural and urban, informal and formal settlements.
MDG Target on Sanitation Sanitation is one of the most off-track targets of the MDGs. 2.5 billion people do not have access to improved sanitation, 70 per cent of which live in rural areas. Around 1 billion people practice open defecation. 1.6 million people, mostly children under the age of 5, die each year from water and sanitation-related diseases.
Striking Inequalities in Access: Urban-Rural 100% 90% 80% All water infrastructure+surface water All water infrastructure 100% 90% 80% All water infrastructure+surface water All water infrastructure 70% 70% 60% Improved water sources 60% Improved water sources 50% 40% Safe water sources 50% 40% Safe water sources 30% 20% safe water sources that is within 30mins of home 30% 20% safe water sources that is within 30mins of home 10% safe water sources at home 10% safe water sources at home 0% 1990 2010 Urban 0% 1990 2010 Rural Urban-Rural disparities (2010) (source WHO-UNICEF) Improved water: 93% vs. 44%, safe water at home: 45% vs. 0.2%
Striking Inequalities in Access: Rich-Poor Poorest 57 37 40 Poor 0 48 32 Middle 0 41 12 26 Rich 0 24 Richest 4 13 36 0 9 40 36 34 31 36 44 31 7 5 16 11 16 10 32 20 38 24 21 13 Open defecation 27 32 47 51 Unimproved facilities Shared improved facilities Improved facilities Rich-poor gap (rural): 42%pt (2000), 40%pt (2008) (source WHO-UNICEF)
Why human rights matter to water and sanitation?
Legal basis for the human rights to water and sanitation Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art. 25(1)) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (art. 11) Convention on the Rights of the Child (art. 24(2)(h)) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (art. 14(2)(h)) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (art. 18 (2)(a)) UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions 292/64 and 15/9, respectively Human Rights Council resolution 24/41 affirmed the normative content of the HR to water and sanitation
Human rights-based approach: key elements Equality and non-discrimination: Everyone is equal before the law; prohibition of arbitrary differences of treatment Participation and inclusion: Every person is entitled to active, free and meaningful participation in and contribution to decision-making processes affecting them Accountability and the rule of law: State and other duty-bearers should be accountable for the fulfilment of their obligations
What is the Human Right to Water and Sanitation? The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses. The human right to sanitation entitles everyone, without discrimination, to physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, which is safe, hygienic, secure, socially and culturally acceptable, which provides privacy and dignity.
Normative content of the rights to water and sanitation AVAILABILITY: sufficient and continuous for personal and domestic uses; within immediate vicinity QUALITY: safe for consumption and other personal uses; hygienically and technically safe to use ACCESSIBILITY: to everyone without discrimination, within the immediate vicinity AFFORDABILITY: price must be affordable for all without compromising the ability to secure other essential necessities guaranteed by human rights ACCEPTABILITY: culturally acceptable and gender-specific, and to ensure privacy and dignity
1 Qué es el acceso a la justicia? Los Estados tienen la obligación de realizar los derechos humanos al agua y al saneamiento y se puede exigir su responsabilidad por el cumplimiento de dicha obligación. El derecho de acceso a la justicia es indispensable para poner en práctica este principio fundamental. las personas pueden denunciar supuestas violaciones a los derechos humanos ante órganos independientes e imparciales.
1.1 Fundamentos legales Los derechos humanos al A&S son componentes del derecho humano a un nivel de vida adecuado (Pacto Internacional de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales). Comité de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales (CDESC), Observación general Nº 15 Toda persona o grupo que haya sido víctima de una violación del derecho al agua deberá contar con recursos judiciales o de otro tipo efectivos tanto en el plano nacional como en el internacional. Todas las víctimas de las violaciones del derecho al agua deberán tener derecho a una reparación adecuada. La Observación general Nº 15 se aplica igualmente al derecho humano al saneamento.
1.2 Las dimensiones del acceso a la justicia La obligación de respetar (desconexiones, acceso a fuentes de agua, contaminación, reducción cuantidad) La obligación de proteger (prevención de violaciones cambio de proveedores) La obligación de cumplir (universalización ) No discriminación e igualdad Participación Obligaciones extraterritoriales
3 Cómo hacer para que el acceso a la justicia sea eficaz Todos los mecanismos de rendición de cuentas deben resolver las denuncias de manera inmediata, expeditiva, eficaz, imparcial e independiente. Los recursos deben ser accesibles, asequibles, oportunos o rápidos y eficaces.
3.1 Cómo superar los obstáculos al acceso a la justicia Acceso a la información. Accesibilidad física. Asequibilidad Servicios jurídicos Otros obstáculos Barreras sociales que enfrentan las mujeres. No familiaridad con regulaciones y tradiciones de los tribunales. Dependencia económica de personas o grupos que violan los derechos. Miedo a represalias, discriminación o estigmatización (privacidad y anonimato)
3.2 Qué se requiere para garantizar el acceso a la justicia? Expertise y capacitación. Independencia, imparcialidad, transparencia y rendición de cuentas. Toma de decisiones en forma inmediata y oportuna. Procesos y decisiones comprensibles. Interpretación del derecho nacional en consonancia con el derecho internacional. Los tribunales y los organismos de derechos humanos deben evaluar si el Estado ha utilizado el máximo de recursos disponibles.
3.3 Recursos apropiados y eficaces Diseño de recursos apropiados, incluso recursos sistemáticos. Cómo garantizar el cumplimiento de las sentencias.
Rights to water and sanitation what do they mean in practice? Do States have to implement these rights overnight? Do States have to provide access directly? Is everyone entitled to piped water and a flush toilet connected to a sewerage network? Do States have to provide services free of charge? Do human rights contribute to providing access to water and sanitation?
Integrating human rights in Post-2015 development agenda
For further information http://www.ohchr.org/en/issues /WaterAndSanitation/SRWater/ Pages/SRWaterIndex.aspx