The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva has unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right.
The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva has unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right. The resolution was introduced by Germany and Spain, while Pakistan played an active diplomatic role in securing an explicit reference to Trans boundary water cooperation in the final text. According to Pakistan, the resolution marks the first time that clear language on cooperation over trans boundary water resources has been included. Pakistan maintained that cooperation between neighboring countries is essential when dealing with shared rivers and water resources. Reports said India attempted to remove the reference to trans boundary water cooperation from the resolution, but the 47-member Human Rights Council adopted it unanimously. Pakistan's First Secretary, Adeel Khokhar, said that cooperation over shared water resources is a collective responsibility of neighboring countries and that no upstream country can use water as a tool of political pressure or influence.
