What is Water Scarcity?

Whose right is it anyway?

The right to life depends on water. Therefore water, as one of the basic needs for every creature on this planet, is an unavoidable right that all human beings and species should have. The United Nations General Assembly declare that there is a human right to water and sanitation. Nearly 80% of countries recognize the right to water, and just over half of them recognize the right to sanitation.

All other basic human rights depend on water (right to life, to food, to housing, to education, to take part in a cultural life, to an adequate standard of living, etc.). But the right to water is constantly denied by developed and developing countries.

Realizing the rights to water and sanitation may help target resources to deprived populations and avoid discrimination in water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.

Important to know: Declaring the human right to have access to water is not the same as ratifying the right to water. Having the right to access water does not specify about the quality, quantity or cost of that water; it is trick! This right could be met by simply installing a water pipe to a house, even though water is extremely expensive or bad quality. The human right to water, in the other hand, means that everyone has the right to accessible, safe (good quality for drinking and cooking), and affordable water.This is what really counts.