UN Independent Expert on Safe Drinking water and Sanitation Appointed

October 20th, 2008

In its September 2008 session, The UN Human Rights Council appointed Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque as Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Ms. de Albuquerque will take up her functions on 1 November 2008 for a period of three years.

Detailed information and useful inks can be found on the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Independent Expert is tasked with the following:

(a) To develop a dialogue with Governments, the relevant United Nations bodies, the private sector, local authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic institutions, to identify, promote and exchange views on best practices related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and, in that regard, to prepare a compendium of best practices;

(b) To advance the work by undertaking a study, in cooperation with and reflecting the views of Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, and in further cooperation with the private sector, local authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic institutions, on the further clarification of the content of human rights obligations, including non-discrimination obligations, in relation to access to safe drinking water and sanitation;

(c) To make recommendations that could help the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular of Goal 7;

(d) To apply a gender perspective, including through the identification of gender-specific vulnerabilities;

(e) To work in close coordination, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with other special procedures and subsidiary organs of the Council, relevant United Nations bodies and the treaty bodies, and taking into account the views of other stakeholders, including relevant regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic institutions;
Contact:

Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation
OHCHR, United Nations
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Email: iewater@ohchr.org

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