EWP participated in the 57th session of the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 17 September. Sandra Metayer from Coalition Eau represented EWP in Geneva, joining the special rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, for the launch of his latest report: “Water and economy nexus: managing water for productive uses from a human rights perspective”. The report asserts that water should be managed as commons in the public domain and can be read in English, French, and Spanish.
During the session Sandra shared testimonies submitted by marginalised community representatives to the #HearingTheUnheardHRWS campaign. Sandra presented recommendations from the Leave No One Behind policy brief to Human Rights Council members, emphasising the necessity of meaningful participation: “Marginalised communities are rightsholders and vital actors – not ‘beneficiaries’.” You can download the policy brief in English, French and Spanish.
Representatives from 32 countries attended the session, which was co-convened by the Geneva Environmental Network. Numerous speakers affirmed that water governance is fundamentally a matter of democracy. Water is not a commodity. It is a common good that must be accessible to all but not appropriable by anyone. Promoting a human-rights based approach to water management requires prioritising water for life and for dignity. You can watch the UNHRC session in full below.