News Archives » United Nations
People’s Guide to the UN Human Right to Water and Sanitation June 21st, 2011
Photo by Living Water International
The Council of Canadians has released a new report titled Our Right to Water: A People’s Guide to Implementing the United Nations’ Recognition of the Right to Water and Sanitation. Chairperson Maude Barlow wrote the report, available from the Council of Canadians.
On July 28, 2010 the General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution recognizing the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. Two months later, the UN Human Rights Council recognized the human right to water and sanitation in a similar resolution, setting out exactly what this new right entails for governments. Because the Human Rights Council resolution is based on two existing treaties, it rendered binding the first right to water resolution passed by the General Assembly. In other words, as the UN acknowledges, “The right to water and sanitation is a human right, equal to all other human rights, which implies that it is justiciable and enforceable.”
“All governments are now bound by these historic UN resolutions. Whether or not they voted for the two resolutions, every member nation of the UN is now obligated to accept and recognize the human right to water and sanitation and come up with a plan of action based on the obligation to respect, the obligation to protect and the obligation to fulfil these new rights,” says Barlow.
UN Envoy Sees Evidence of Serious International Crime in Sri Lanka Video June 7th, 2011
Shocking video footage of summary executions apparently committed during the Sri Lankan civil war has been examined by experts and appears to be convincing evidence of “serious international crimes,” according to Christof Heyns, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
Since late last year, the United Nations has closely studied the video that allegedly showed acts committed during the civil war that ended in 2009. “I conclude on the basis of the extensive technical evidence we obtained from independent experts that what is depicted in the video indeed happened,” Mr. Heyns told the Human Rights Council in Geneva, adding that “I believe that a prima facie case of serious international crimes has been made.” He said an international panel should investigate the evidence.
Click here to read more »
E-Digest on Freedom of Religion: 25 years of thought by four UN Special Rapporteurs March 31st, 2011
From freedom from coercion, to State religion; from the right to manifest one’s religion or belief, to religious intolerance and extremism: on the 25th anniversary of the mandate’s establishment, UN Special Rapporteur Heiner Bielefeldt has put together a key reference e-book with observations and recommendations by the four independent experts who have served on the Freedom of Religion or Belief mandate since 1986.
The “Rapporteur’s Digest on Freedom of Religion or Belief” is a 108-page downloadable compilation of relevant excerpts from reports produced by Mr. Bielefeldt (Germany, IE since August 2010), Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan, 2004-2010), Mr. Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia, 1993-2004), and Mr. Angelo d’Almeida Ribeiro (Portugal, 1986-1993).
Read the “Rapporteur’s Digest on Freedom of Religion or Belief” (Download PDF)
Mandate for Special Rapporteur on Water and Sanitation Adopted by UN HR Council March 25th, 2011
Winnemem Wintu Chief and Spiritual Leader Caleen Sisk-Franco discusses her village's sewer system with the U.N. Independent Expert Catarina de Albuquerque.
The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution this morning extending the mandate on the human right to safe water and sanitation for another three years, and changing the powers of the Independent Expert to that of a special rapporteur.
This is good news. The mandate will continue with Catarina de Albuquerque in the position of Special Rapporteur. In this position, she will have enhanced powers: in addition to assisting governments to define the scope and content of the rights, she can engage with governments about complaints from affected individuals, communities, and civil society organizations on issues related to and possible violations of the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Furthermore, the resolution explicitly states the full list of criteria for the human rights to water and sanitation. These are listed below:
Click here to read more »
March 8: International Day of Women March 1st, 2011
Each year on March 8 the United Nations and other global groups celebrate the gifts of women. This year the priority theme is “Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.” Celebrate the women in your life on this day. In some countries March 8 is a national holiday!
