We live in the times where humanity is seemingly reaching the highest levels of education and technological development. People strive to eliminate inequality in our global society and erase stereotypes and discrimination of any kind. But little do we know that we are collectively contributing to one of the biggest marginalizations of people among us. People are being denied their right to water.
WORLD WATER CRISIS
A staggering 2,2 billion people do not have access to safely managed drinking water services worldwide. It is estimated that by 2050, 5.7 billion people could be living in areas where water is scarce for at least one month a year. Lacking access to an improved water source means that such sources of water are not protected from the outside contamination, they are exposed to fecal materials and possible diseases and pollutants.
As the World Health Organization and Unicef report, concerned but determined for the world to know, 80% of people in the position of lacking improved water sources live in rural areas of less economically developed countries.
No water supply networks, no toilet nor shower, no chance to satisfy daily needs and activities, which the majority of us consider self-evident, as we take sanitation and a daily water supply for granted.
WATER SCARCITY
Water scarcity is by definition the lack of fresh water resources to meet the demand of water globally. With only 3% of world waters being potentially drinkable only 0.014% of it is both drinkable and easily accessible, while 97% of world water is saline (International Water Management Institute, 2015).
Causes of water scarcity have been linked mostly to human impacts on the environment like contamination of some sources or over-using irreversible deplations of groundwater by practicing agricultural and industrial techniques that ruin the quality of water. Water scarcity is a global problem of many causes, some most impactful being poverty, pollution, economic scarcity, water grabbing and resource possession and water exploitation.
These numerous influences enable exploitation of water resources and affect the position of dependent people. As water is a definite, limited resource, there is a fear that at some point, there will not be enough water to sustain the human population. By being a basic human need, the significance of water for life and health of an individual is fundamental.
WATER POLLUTION
One of the biggest impacts on water scarcity is water pollution. Contamination of water bodies is most commonly caused by the human factor. Fecal waste, wastewater, pathogens and the effects of global warming influence the sanitary and hygienic levels of water making it unhealthy and dangerous if drunk. This is a reality of more than 2 billion people, the majority inhabiting less economically developed countries in Africa and Asia (WHO, 2013).
WATER GRABBING
Another influential factor is water grabbing, which occurs when powerful actors control water resources for their own benefit, depriving communities who rely on water, from their rights. Even though the means and ways of water grabbing may differ, the consequences of this phenomenon all have the same impact on water systems; either entailing a dispossession of water resources or the ecological destruction of them.
The various ways these powerful actors perform water grabbing have a common end result; people are deprived of their right to water and struggle to survive while big corporations, governments or any other powerful stakeholders, privatize and exploit water sources. Water grabbing is only possible because there are little to no laws preventing such doings (Franco).
RECOGNITION OF WATER RIGHTS
On 28 July 2010, through Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly recognized that water and sanitation are human rights.
In May 2011, the UN was followed by the World Health Organization (WHO), who called all Member States "to ensure that national health strategies contribute to the realization of water- and sanitation rights” (WHO, 2011), recognizing Resolution 64/24. Two years later, the UN Special Rapporteur recognized the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation in July 2013.
Despite water rights being recognized by many international organizations, they still have not made their way into most States’ constitutions.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE A CHANGE?
Get the message out!
On March 22nd we celebrated the World Water Day and raised awareness on the global water crisis. This year’s World Water Day was focused on the value of water which goes far beyond its price.
The UN's World Water Day initiative calls for everyone who wishes to raise awareness about this issue to get the message out and share posts and information about the water crisis. Educate yourself on the topic, spread your knowledge and exert public pressure to help the fight!
Visit their page to learn more about the importance of water and water scarcity and find a template you can share on your social media! https://www.worldwaterday.org/share
OTHER RESOURCES:
The Global Politics of Water Grabbing Franco J., L. Mehta and G.J. Veldwisch (2013)
Comments