The human right to water

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Water is essential for life, yet over 1 billion people lack sufficient drinking water, and 2.4 billion do not have access to sanitation. This denial of access to water undermines human dignity. In 2002, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted General Comment No. 15 on the Right to Water, establishing a legal framework for this right. It is crucial to deepen our understanding of its legal foundations and to examine regulatory and practical aspects at both national and international levels, especially in light of states' commitments to the UN Millennium Development Goals. In October 2005, Germany's government and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights organized an International Conference on the Human Right to Water, gathering around 130 experts, including academics, government officials, and representatives from NGOs and international organizations. The discussions, featuring a panelist who received the Right Livelihood Award, aimed to stimulate ongoing dialogue about the human right to water. The publication encourages readers to engage in this conversation, with the first part focusing on the legal dimensions of the right to water in various laws, while the second part examines its potential to enhance access to water and sanitation. Workshop reports capture the dynamic discussions that took place during the conference.