Clean Water should Be Basic Human Right, UN Determines

Clean-Water

An overwhelming 122 nations voted in favor of a new determination put forward by the United Nations General Assembly that clean safe drinking water should be a basic human right. Based on the resolution, it was revealed that more than 800 million people do not have the access to safe water that is drinkable, clean, and affordable.

There were no votes against the resolution, though 41 nations had abstained from the voting. One of those countries that abstained from the votes was shown to be the United States, with the reason being that the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva is addressing the issue in a better way.

According to John Sammis, deputy representative of the US to the Economic and Social Council, “This resolution describes a right to water and sanitation in a way that is not reflective of existing international law; as there is no “right to water and sanitation” in an international legal sense as described by this resolution. The United States regrets that this resolution diverts us from the serious international efforts underway to promote greater coordination and cooperation on water and sanitation issues.”

Other countries that abstained from the voting include the UK, Canada, and Australia. Brazil, China, and France were some of the nations in favor of the resolution.