Water is a Human Right

Water and sanitation are a human right!

Water is a public good, not a commodity. We invite the European Commission to propose legislation implementing the human right to water and sanitation as recognised by the United Nations, and promoting the provision of water and sanitation as essential public services for all. The EU legislation should require governments to ensure and to provide all citizens with sufficient and clean drinking water and sanitation. We urge that:

The EU institutions and Member States be obliged to ensure that all inhabitants enjoy the right to water and sanitation.
Water supply and management of water resources not be subject to ‘internal market rules’ and that water services are excluded from liberalisation.
The EU increases its efforts to achieve universal access to water and sanitation.

Council puts provisions on Right2Water at risk – Urgent need to mobilise

(20 June 2018) Next Monday, June 25, the Council of the European Union will discuss for the first time ever the European Citizens Initiative Right2water.

World Water Day 2018 still fighting for Human Right to Water

(22 March 2018) Today is World Water Day. Four years ago we completed the first ever successful European Citizens Initiative for the Human Right to water.

European Parliament considers revised Regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative

(23 February 2018) The experience of many campaigners and organisations with running ECI’s has not been positive.

New study demands Commission to support institutional environment for Human Right to Water – and to avoid threats to it

(8 February 2018) The European Commission published its proposals for a Recast of the Drinking Water Directive, 1 February 2018.

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Supporting organisations

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European Anti-Poverty Network

European Environmental Bureau

Aqua Publica Europea

FYEG

Women in Europe for a Common Future

European Public Health Alliance

Social Platform

European Federation of Public Service Unions

European Trade Union Confederation

Ambassadors

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Felix DODDS

Executive Director of Stakeholderforum, UK. "I sign for the human right to water and sanitation!"

Maurice OUZOULIAS

Conseiller Général du Val-de-Marne (France)

Conseiller Général du Val-de-Marne (France): « L’eau, plus qu’un besoin vital, est un droit qui reste à conquérir en France, en Europe et dans le monde. Le service public est un élément fort de la garantie d’accès pour toutes et tous à l’eau et à l’assainissement »

Christiane FRANCK

Directrice général de l’intercommunale belge Vivaqua et Administratrice déléguée d’Aqua Publica Europea

Directrice générale de l’intercommunale belge Vivaqua et Administratrice déléguée d’Aqua Publica Europea: «Au sein d’Aqua Publica Europea, association qui regroupe les principaux acteurs publics de l’eau européens, je me bats pour que l’eau, bien public, reste entre les mains du public. » Christiane Franck, directeur-generaal van de Belgische intercommunale Vivaqua en gedelegeerd bestuurder van Aqua Publica Europea, steunt de actie 'right2water'. "Binnen Aqua Publica Europea, de Europese vereniging van de openbare wateroperatoren, strijd ik ervoor dat het beheer van het water, als openbaar goed, in handen van de openbare sector blijft".

Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN

President of the Party of European Socialists (April 2004-November 2011)

Pedro ARROJO AGUDO

Professor at Zaragoza University, Spain: "Deberíamos introducir el derecho humano al agua potable y al saneamiento básico en nuestras constituciones y leyes fundamentales, como han hecho ya varios países latinoamericanos. La UE debería hacer lo propio, reformando la Directiva Marco de Aguas; y no sólo por lo que significaría de cara a los propios países de la Unión, sino también por el eco que tendría a nivel mundial y las implicaciones que deberían derivarse en lo referente a nuestra responsabilidades globales."

Freddy THIELEMANS

Mayor of Brussels

Mayor of Brussels (Belgium)

Konstantin Wecker

Musiker, Liedermacher, Komponist, Schauspieler und Autor: „Wasser zu privatisieren ist die bislang größte Ungerechtigkeit, die sich die neoliberale Ideologie hat einfallen lassen. Ich bin gerne bei der Europäischen Bürgerinitiative dabei und setze mich dafür ein, das Menschenrecht auf Wasser Wirklichkeit werden zu lassen.“

Ondrej VETCHY

Famous Czech actor: "I traveled a lot and I had the opportunity to see and experience how important it is, that each person in the world has the right to drink clean water! Having a functional sanitary helps to reduce the spread of infectious diseases to a minimum"

Marco DORIA

Mayor of Genoa

Mayor of Genoa (Italy)

Bertrand DELANOË

Maire de Paris

Mayor of Paris (France)

Plamen DIMITROV

President

President of CITUB Trade Union (Bulgaria): "The right to water? -This is the human right to life!"

Karina KELLNER

Secrétaire Générale, OBUSSAS – Observatoire des Usagers de l’Assainissement en Ile-de-France

Secrétaire Générale, OBUSSAS – Observatoire des Usagers de l’Assainissement en Ile-de-France: « Alors que l’ONU a reconnu le droit à l’eau et à l’assainissement comme un droit fondamental de l’Homme, il est plus qu’urgent qu’en France comme en Europe le droit à l’eau devienne une réalité pour toutes et tous. »

Jean-Jacques JESPERS

Journalist and Professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)

Journalist and Professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium): "L'eau tombe du ciel, et c'est heureux car sans elle la vie n'existerait pas. On peut y voir un cadeau de Dieu, si on y croit, ou un don de la nature. Mais certainement pas un bien privé ni une arme stratégique. L'eau, comme l'air, n'appartient à personne et est indispensable à tous. Nul ne peut se l'approprier pour quelque but que ce soit."

Glafkos HADJIPETROU

General Secretary

General Secretary PASYDY Trade Union (Cyprus): "I sign for the Human Right to Water"

Pavel RUZICKA

Chairman OSDLV

Chairman OSDLV (Czech Republic): "I want all people to have fair access to water at reasonable prices. I do not want any exorbitant sums to be paid for water after the privatization - as in the Czech Republic - where since the privatization prices has risen enormously due to the greed of multinational companies. All people should have the access to water and to meet their personal needs no matter what their income situation is." "Chci, aby všichni lidé m?li spravedlivý p?ístup k vod? za rozumné ceny. Nechci, aby se za vodu po privatizaci platili nehorázné sumy, jako tomu je v ?eské republice, kdy po privatizaci se neúm?rn? zvedli ceny ohledn? zisk? nadnárodních spole?ností. Všichni lidé by m?li mít šanci si koupit vodu a splnit si své osobní pot?eby bez ohledu na to, jaká je jejich situace.

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Water and sanitation are a human right!

Latest News

Council puts provisions on Right2Water at risk – Urgent need to mobilise

World Water Day 2018 still fighting for Human Right to Water

European Parliament considers revised Regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative

New study demands Commission to support institutional environment for Human Right to Water – and to avoid threats to it