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Human Right to Water: Selected Documents
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International documents |
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Constitutional provisions |
Colombia
(Constitution, 1991)
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Article 334 -
El Estado, de manera especial, intervendrá para asegurar que todas las personas, en particular las de menores ingresos, tengan acceso efectivo a los bienes y servicios básicos.
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Article 366 -
Será objetivo fundamental de su actividad la solución de las necesidades insatisfechas de ... saneamiento ambiental y de agua potable.
Unofficial Translations:
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Article 334 -
The State will, in particular, intervene in order to assure that all persons, principally those of lower revenues, have an effective access to basic goods and services.
- Article 366 -
The palliation of unsatisfied needs in sanitation and drinking water will be one of the fundamental aims [of the State].
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Congo
(Democratic Republic) (Project of Constitution, 2007)
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Ecuador (Constitution, 1998)
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Article 23 -
El Estado reconocerá y garantizará a las personas los siguientes: […] El derecho a una calidad de vida que asegure la salud, alimentación y nutrición, agua potable, saneamiento ambiental, educación, ...
Unofficial Translations:
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Article 23 -
The State will recognize and grant to all personas the following: […] The right to a quality of life that assures health, alimentation and nutrition, potable water, sanitation, education, ...
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Ethiopia (Constitution, 1994)
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Article 90.1 -
To the extent the country's resources permit, policies shall aim to provide all Ethiopians with access to public health and education, clean water, housing, food and social security.
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Gambia (Constitution, 1996)
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Guatemala (Constitution, 1985)
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Articulo 127 -
Régimen de aguas. Todas las aguas son bienes de dominio público, inalienables e imprescriptibles. Su aprovechamiento, uso y goce, se otorgan en la forma establecida por la ley, de acuerdo con el interés social. Una ley específica regulará esta materia.
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Articulo 128 -
Aprovechamiento de aguas, lagos y ríos. El aprovechamiento de las aguas de los lagos y de los ríos, para fines agrícolas, agropecuarios, turísticos o de cualquier otra naturaleza, que contribuya al desarrollo de la economía nacional, está a los servicios de la comunidad y no de persona particular alguna, pero los usuarios están obligados a reforestar las riberas y los cauces correspondientes, así como a facilitar las vías de acceso.
Unofficial Translations:
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Article 127 -
Water regime. All water resources belong to the public domain of the state, are inalienable and inprescriptible. Their exploitation, use and enjoyment, are granted in the form established by law, in accordance with the social interest. A specific law will regulate this matter.
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Article 128 -
Exploitation of waters, lakes and rivers. The exploitation of waters of lakes and rivers, for agricultural, farming, tourism or purposes of any other nature, that may contribute to the development of the nation's economy, is open to the community and not to any specific particular person, but users are forced to reforest the corresponding shores and channels, as well as to facilitate access paths.
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Iran (Constitution, as amended in 1989)
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Article 3 [State Goals] - In order to attain the objectives specified in Article 2, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has the duty of directing all its resources to the following goals:
[…]
12) the planning of a correct and just economic system, in accordance with Islamic criteria, in order to create welfare, eliminate poverty, and abolish all forms of deprivation with respect to food, housing, work, health care, and the provision of social insurance for all;
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Article 43 [Principles] - The economy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its objectives of achieving the economic independence of the society, uprooting poverty and deprivation, and fulfilling human needs in the process of development while preserving human liberty, is based on the following criteria:
1. the provision of basic necessities for all citizens: housing, food, clothing, hygiene, medical treatment, education, and the necessary facilities for the establishment of a family;
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Kenya (Draft Constitution, 2005)
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Nigeria
(1999 Constitution)
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Article 17(2) -
In furtherance of the social order
[…]
(b) the sanctity of the human person shall be recognised and human dignity shall be maintained and enhanced;
[…]
(d) exploitation of human or natural resources in any form whatsoever for reasons, other than the good of the community, shall be prevented; and
- Article 17(3) -
The
State shall direct its policy towards ensuring
that-
(a) all citizens, without discrimination on any group whatsoever, have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood […]
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Panama
(Constitution, 1999)
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Articulo 106 - En materia de salud, corresponde primordialmente al Estado el desarrollo de las siguientes actividades :... Combatir las enfermedades transmisibles mediante el saneamiento ambiental, el desarrollo de la disponibilidad de agua potable
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Articulo 114 -
Es deber fundamental del Estado garantizar que la población viva en un ambiente sano y libre de contaminación, en donde el aire, el agua y los alimentos satisfagan los requerimientos del desarrollo adecuado de la vida humana.
- Articulo 256 -
Las concesiones para la explotación del suelo, del subsuelo, de los bosques y para la utilización de agua, de medios de comunicación o transporte y de otras empresas de servicio público, se inspirarán en el bienestar social y el interés público.
Unofficial Translations:
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Article 106 - In the health sector, it primordially is the responsibility of the state to: … eradicate transmissible diseases through assuring a healthy environment and improving access to potable water
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Article 114 -
It is a fundamental duty of the State to guarantee that the population live in a healthy environment free of pollution, where the air, water and food satisfy the requirements of human life.
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Article 256 -
Concessions for the exploitation of the ground, the subsoil, the forests and for the use of water, communication and transport networks, and other public services companies, will be granted inspired by the social welfare and the public interest.
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Philippines
(Constitution, 1987)
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South Africa
(Constitution, 1996)
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Section 27 -
Everyone has the right to have access to
1. health care services, including reproductive health care;
2. sufficient food and water; and
3. social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents, appropriate social assistance.
The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights…
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Spain
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Autonomy Statute of the Community of Valencia (2006)
Articulo 17 - Se garantiza el derecho de los valencianos y valencianas a disponer del abastecimiento suficiente de agua de calidad. Igualmente, se reconoce el derecho de redistribución de los sobrantes de aguas de cuencas excedentarias atendiendo a criterios de sostenibilidad de acuerdo con la Constitución y la legislación estatal. Los ciudadanos y ciudadanas valencianos tienen derecho a gozar de una cantidad de agua de calidad, suficiente y segura, para atender a sus necesidades de consumo humano y para poder desarrollar sus actividades económicas y sociales de acuerdo con la Ley.
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Autonomy Statute of the Community of Aragon (2006 Project)
Articulo 19 - Los aragoneses tienen derecho a disponer del abastecimiento de agua en condiciones de cantidad y calidad suficientes para atender sus necesidades presentes y futuras, tanto para el consumo humano como para el desarrollo de actividades sociales y económicas que permitan la vertebración y el reequilibrio territorial sostenible de Aragón.
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Autonomy Statute of the Community of Catalunya (2006)
Articulo 27 - Totes les persones tenen dret a gaudir dels recursos naturals en condicions d'igualtat, i tenen el deure de fer-ne un ús responsable i evitar-ne el malbaratament.
(Toutes les personnes ont le droit de jouir des ressources naturelles dans des conditions d'égalité et elles ont le devoir d'en faire un usage responsable et d'éviter leur gaspillage).
Articulo 30.1 - Totes les persones tenen dret a accedir en condicions d'igualtat als serveis públics i als serveis econòmics d'interès general. Les administracions públiques
han de fixar les condicions d'accés i els estàndards de qualitat d'aquests serveis, amb independència del règim de llur prestació.
(Toutes les personnes ont droit à l'accès dans des conditions d'égalité aux services publics et aux services économiques d'intérêt général. Les administrations publiques doivent fixer les conditions d'accès et les normes de qualité de ces services indépendamment du régime juridique de leur prestation).
Articulo 42.1 - Els poders públics han de promoure polítiques públiques que fomentin la cohesió social i que garanteixin un sistema de serveis socials, de titularitat pública i concertada, adequat als indicadors econòmics i socials de Catalunya.
Unofficial Translations :
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Autonomy Statute of the Community of Valencia (2006)
Articulo 17 - The provision of sufficient water of quality is granted to the people of Valencia. The right to redistribute the excess of water from other basins is recognized as well, provided sustainability criteria are observed in execution of the constitution and state legislation. The people of Valencia have the right to have a quantity of water of quality, sufficient and safe, in order to satisfy personal consumption needs and in order to perform their economic and social activities in observance of the law.
- Autonomy Statute of the Community of Aragon (2006 Project)
Articulo 19 - The people of Aragon have the right to the provision of water in sufficient quantity and quality to satisfy their present and future needs for human consumption and for social and economic activities that allow for the ordainment and sustainable territorial balance of Aragon.
- Autonomy Statute of the Community of Catalunya (2006)
Articulo 27 - All persons have the right to enjoy natural resources in equal conditions, and have the right to make a responsible use of them that avoids their wastage.
Articulo 30.1 - All persons have the right to have access in equal conditions to public services and to economic services of general interest. The government must fix the conditions for access and the quality standards of said services, independently of the juridical regime of their operation.
Articulo 42.1 - The government must promote public policies that encourage social cohesion and that assure a system of social services in public hands that are adequate to the economic and social indicators of Catalunya.
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Uganda
(Constitution, 1995)
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Preamble -
The State shall protect important natural resources, including land, water, wetlands, minerals, oil, fauna and flora on behalf of the people of Uganda.
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Article 14 -
The State shall endeavour to fulfil the fundamental rights of all Ugandans to social justice and economic development and shall, in particular, ensure that…
(2) all Ugandans enjoy rights and opportunities and access to education, health services, clean and safe water, decent shelter, adequate clothing, food, security and pension and retirements benefits.
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Uruguay
(2004 modification to the constitution, approved by referendum)
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Article 47 - The water is a natural resource essential to life. The access to drinkable water and the access to sewerage, constitute fundamental human rights.
1) The national policy of Waters and Sewerage will be based on:
a) The arranging of the territory, conservation and protection of the environment and restoration of nature.
b) The sustainable management, solidary with future generations, of water resources and preservation of the hydrologic cycle that constitute matters of general interest. The users and the civil society, will take part in all instances of planning, management and control of water resources; establishing the hydrographic basins as basic units.
c) The establishment of priorities for the use of water by regions, basins, or parts of them, being the first priority the supplying of drinkable water to populations.
d) The principle by which the providing of the service of drinkable water and sewerage, will have to be done placing reasons of social order before those of economic order.
Any authorization, concession or permission that anyway goes against these principles will have to be stopped with no consequences.
2) The superficial waters, as well as the underground ones, with exception of rain, integrated in the hydrologic cycle, constitute a unitary resource, subordinated to the general interest, which is part of the state 's public domain, as hydraulic public domain.
3) The public service of sewerage and the public service of water supplying for the human consumption, will be served exclusively and directly by state legal persons.
4) The law, by the three fifth of votes of the total of components of each Chamber, will be able to authorize supplying water to another country, when it is deprived of supplies and by reasons of solidarity.
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Venezuela
(Constitution, 1999)
- Articulo 82 -
Toda persona tiene derecho a una vivienda adecuada, segura, cómoda, higiénicas, con servicios básicos esenciales que incluyan un hábitat que humanice las relaciones familiares, vecinales y comunitarias. La satisfacción progresiva de este derecho es obligación compartida entre los ciudadanos y el Estado en todos sus ámbitos.
Unofficial Translation :
Article 82 - Every person has the right to an adequate house that is safe, comfortable, hygienic, and comes with essential basic services, providing an environment that humanizes the relationships within the family, the neighbourhood and the community. The progressive realization of this right is a shared responsibility of citizens and of the state at every level.
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Zambia
(Constitution, as amended in 1996)
- Article 112 -
The State shall endeavour to provide clean and safe water.
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