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.

Legislate on Right2Water and exclude water permanently from the internal market and trade agreements says EESC

(23 October 2014) The European Economic and Social Committee which brings together employers, trade unions, consumers, farmers and representatives of other groups from all European countries calls on the European Commission to come forward with legislative proposals that honour the demands of the European Citizens Initiative Right2Water, the first ever successful ECI. The EESC urges the European Commission to propose legislation

Human Rights Watch: Detroit, US out of step on Right to Water

(1 October 2014) On Monday 29 September, a US bankruptcy judge delivered the latest blow to poor residents in the US city of Detroit who are struggling to pay for their water.

Environmental Health Day : Access to water and sanitation is vital

(29 September 2014) On the occasion of World Environmental Health Day, 26 September, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) highlighted the vital importance of water for public health.

Our response to the Consultation on Drinking Water in Europe

(11 September 2014) With respect to the human right to water and sanitation, “right2water” has deliberately focused on the aspects of availability, accessibility and affordability of water supply and wastewater disposal. Quality of drinking water and security of supply – both important aspects of achieving this human right – are in principle effectively ensured by the Drinking Water Directive.

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Supporting organisations

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Aqua Publica Europea

European Environmental Bureau

Women in Europe for a Common Future

European Anti-Poverty Network

European Federation of Public Service Unions

FYEG

European Trade Union Confederation

Social Platform

European Public Health Alliance

Ambassadors

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Andreas Schieder

Austrian State Secretary

Austrian State Secretary: "Wasser ist ein Grundbedürfnis. Jeder Mensch soll täglich mindestens drei Liter Wasser trinken. Jeder von uns möchte aber qualitativ hochwertiges Wasser. Das heißt, die Wasserversorgung muss in öffentlicher Hand bleiben. Denn nur dann ist die gewünschte Qualität gesichert, die wir gerade in Österreich so gewöhnt sind. Deshalb bin ich Botschafter der Europäischen BürgerInneninitiative!"

Marc Levy

French writer

Ignas KRUPAVICIUS

Host of the popular TV shows on Lithuanian National Television

TV personality in Lithuania: "The Humans are like those plants, which can not survive without the water. We are the Amphibians. And the Amphibians need the Water. It is our Human Right. And it is as simple as that. I like simple things. I like the rain, as I adore the sun. I love to sleep, as I prefer to be awaken. I desire to live so much as I am willing to die with the smile on my face. And nobody can take these simple things from me and my family. Especially the Water".

Ulrich WIEGAND-LASTER

German Künstler und Autor

German Künstler und Autor: "Wasser gleich Leben, Wasserlassen gleich Lebenlassen"

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.

Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI

President of the Republic of Poland from 1995 to 2005

President of the Republic of Poland from 1995 to 2005: "With pleasure I take under my honorary patronage this European Citizens’ Initiative, as important for humanitarian reasons. I would like to accentuate, that this initiative is consistent with the resolution of United Nations General Assembly from 28th July 2010, which declared, that the right to water and sanitation is the right of every human being"

Tuur ELZINGA

Socialist Party (Netherlands)

Anne HIDALGO

Candidate Mayor of Paris

Peter SOULSBY

Mayor of Leicester

Mayor of Leicester (UK)

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.“

Erhard BUSEK

Chairman of the Institute for the Danube region and Central Europe (IDM) in Vienna, Austria. "Water is life. The ecological situation for us will be more and more dependent on water. We have to do a lot to keep this condition of life available for everybody."

Conny REUTER

Social Platform President, Germany

President Social Platform (Germany): "Social Platform is pleased to support the campaign “Water is a human right” as access to affordable public services is a key concern of our members. Moreover, water is not an ordinary commodity: it is a basic requirement, a fundamental human right. Social Platform therefore asks EU decision makers to protect access to water from commercial interests and to promote a rights-based approach."

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."

Hans VAN DIJK

Emeritus Professor at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands: "Quality public water services are an indispensable part of modern society. They require high skills and knowledge and a balanced consideration of the interests of consumers, governments, workers and the environment!"

Pierre MANSAT

Adjoint au Maire de Paris

Adjoint au maire de Paris, chargé de Paris Métropole & des relations avec les collectivités territoriales d'Ile de France : "L'eau est à nous"

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Water and sanitation are a human right!

Latest News

Legislate on Right2Water and exclude water permanently from the internal market and trade agreements says EESC

Human Rights Watch: Detroit, US out of step on Right to Water

Environmental Health Day : Access to water and sanitation is vital

Our response to the Consultation on Drinking Water in Europe