UN Declares Drinking Water a Human Right  

The General Assembly of the UN approved on Wednesday a resolution sponsored by Bolivia recognizing clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right.

The text of the resolution was presented by Bolivian Ambassador Pablo Solón, and it was ratified by 122 votes in favour and zero votes against.

He said that 41 countries abstained from voting, among them the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Solón noted the significance of this measure because since 1984 the UN recognizes human rights in general, but without including water, education and employment.

Bolivian President Evo Morales warned the UN that its millenium declaration dedicated to Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation would not be fulfilled in 2015 without this resolution.

The new resolution ratifies the commitment of the 192 UN member countries to cooperate in making access to water easier for all the world's inhabitants.

Source: PL