MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2010

MEPs call on Europe to support UN resolution on the Human Right to Water

At the request of several European and international organizations, 16 members of the European Parliament have signed a declaration urging the European Union to support a historic UN resolution calling for drinking water and sanitation to be declared a human right.

The resolution, to be considered by the UN General Assembly on Wednesday July 28, 2010,  would recognize the human right to water and sanitation for the 1.2 billion people without access to clean water and the 2.6 billion without access to basic sanitation.

The resolution co-sponsored by 32 states from the Global South, with more expected before the vote, is facing strong opposition from a small but powerful group of countries including some within the European Union. If the European Union votes a consensus position, allowing internal opposition from a few states to deny recognition of the human right to water and sanitation, it will severely damage the chances of this historic resolution passing.

Global civil society organizations and social movements are calling for strong passage of this resolution.

Led by MEPs Heide Ruehle, José Bové, Rosario Crocetta and Joe Higgins several other MEPs have signed onto the call for EU support. They include MEPs Catherine Greze,  Sven Giegold, Stephen Hughes, Jean Lambert, Linda McAvan, Michèle Rivasi,  Raül Romeva i Rueda, Enrique Guerrero Salom, Bart Staes, Keith Taylor, Arlene McCarthy and Michael Cashman.

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For more information, contact: Meera Karunananthan, national water campaigner at 613.355.2100 or meera@canadians.org