The role of NHRIs in monitoring the realization of the SDGs with a focus on the human right to water...
If you can't read please download the document
The role of NHRIs in monitoring the realization of the SDGs with a focus on the human right to water and sanitation Marcel Szabó Ombudsman for Future Generations
The role of NHRIs in monitoring the realization of the SDGs
with a focus on the human right to water and sanitation Marcel Szab
Ombudsman for Future Generations Hungary
Slide 2
The Human Right to Water Wide-ranging implications: Putting the
right to water into the broader context of different water uses
Analyzing the linkages and competition with other human rights
(depending on water for their realization, e.g. right to life;
right to a healthy environment, etc.) Socio-political issue as
well: often benefitting the well-off and the powerful Therefore: it
has the potential to address structural, underlying causes of
inequality and poverty. The state must be held accountable to meet
the basic needs of its people.
Slide 3
Interconnected water issues Can serve as a major power source,
Vital to agriculture Vital to many industrial processes As water
shortages are increasing, women and girls especially bear the
burden of walking miles at a time to gather water from streams and
ponds having less opportunities for work or schooling 750 million
people around the world lack access to safe water; approximately
one in nine people; and 36 per cent of the worlds population 2.5
billion people lack improved sanitation facilities Every year
contaminated water kills 1.8 million people Raising temperatures
are expected to exacerbate increases of water use Changing climatic
conditions contribute to longer dry spells and increased rainfall
intensity Freshwater is essential in keeping ecosystems healthy
Water is a basic human need therefore water is a right, not a
commodity Water is critical to development Water scarcity
contributes to conflict, inequality and poverty
Slide 4
SDGs post-2015: Goal 6.: Ensure availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all Direct provisions: 6.1
by 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and
affordable drinking water for all 6.2 by 2030, achieve access to
adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open
defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and
girls and those in vulnerable situations 6.3 by 2030, improve water
quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing
release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the
proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and
safe reuse by x% globally 6.4 by 2030, substantially increase
water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable
withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity, and
substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water
scarcity 6.5 by 2030 implement integrated water resources
management at all levels, including through transboundary
cooperation as appropriate 6.6 by 2020 protect and restore
water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands,
rivers, aquifers and lakes 6.a by 2030, expand international
cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries
in water and sanitation related activities and programmes,
including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency,
wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies 6.b support
and strengthen the participation of local communities for improving
water and sanitation management
Slide 5
SDGs post-2015: Indirect provisions: a need for an integrated
approach in implementation Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption
and production patterns Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the
oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development Goal
15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and
halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. The
role of human rights institutions is also strengthened in this
framework: Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and
build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all
levels Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and
revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Slide 6
Monitoring the SDGs The role of NHRIs Interpreting the broad
provisions of SDGs on national and local levels is of utmost
importance to concretize action and responsibility The objectives
of sectorial environmental strategies should reflect those laid
down in the SDGs NHRI investigations can reveal how practice is in
accordance with the provisions, and makes recommendations and
amendments accordingly
Slide 7
The role of NHRIs to realize the Human Right to Water and
Sanitation I) Water governance Often it is not the actual lack of
water that leads to problems, but rather the way in which water is
governed and administered The highly complex and sensitive nature
of the availability, use, and allocation of water requires capable
mechanisms and institutions to negotiate and balance competing
interests The existence of such mechanisms and institutions is a
critical factor influencing intra-state and cross-border relations
over water at least as important as physical water availability,
population density, and levels of economic development
Slide 8
The role of NHRIs to realize the Human Right to Water and
Sanitation II) Legislative reforms and their necessary toolkit:
Reports Right to file an application before the Constitutional
Court Review of draft legislations Legislative Initiative
Legislative proposal
Slide 9
The role of NHRIs to realize the Human Right to Water and
Sanitation III) Enabling public participation Facilitation of broad
and participatory dialogue among different water-related sectors
(water supply companies, sectors of agriculture and fisheries,
local governments, etc.) Reducing power asymmetry between
stakeholders by applying the principles of the Aarhus Convention
Providing transparency by ensuring availability of data and results
of investigations, and calling upon stakeholders to provide or
publish adequate information
Slide 10
The Hungarian example The Hungarian NHRIs mandate is
established under the constitutional principle that natural
resources, including the reserves of water, form the common
heritage of mankind, and thus we are to protect them not only for
present but also for future generations. The main function of the
office is to point to systems-level anomalies in the legal and
political processes of environmental decision-making
Slide 11
An effective mandate to realize Goal 6 of the SDG enables the
NHRI to propose new legislations and amendments to existing laws to
encourage long-term decision-making make recommendations to
authorities initiate public dialogue on issues concerning the
long-term governance of water resources have a bridging and
mediating role between stakeholders engaged in environmental as
well as social and economic matters initiate or participate in
investigations upon complaints or ex officio