Representing 67 states: Egypt demands UN action on human rights pertaining to water

CAIRO – 29 June 2022: Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva Ahmed Gamal El Din delivered a joint statement representing 67 states at the 50th session of the Council for Human Rights (UNCHR) taking place on June 13 – July 8.

Those states include the United States, China, Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Switzerland, all Arab countries, and some European and Latin American countries.  

The statement was pertaining to the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, and showcased that access to clean water and sanitation had been considered one of the human rights since 2010.   

The statement noted that, in spite of the recognition, billions of individuals lack such access in their houses, schools, healthcare facilities, and workplaces. The document pointed out that this reality is detrimental to the right to work and the right to food.

The statement further expressed deep concern about the negative impacts of climate change, loss of biological diversity, and risks relevant to the quantity and quality of water available, which put in jeopardy human health and ecological systems.

The paper underlined that the influence of the global water crisis is more precarious for vulnerable segments. Hence, it called for the office of the high commissioner for human rights to diligently participate in pertinent United Nations activities, with the aim of producing reports on the reinforcement and protection of human rights related to water, and devising solid mechanisms of international cooperation in that realm.