On 5 December 2004, in the zócalo of Mexico City, the endorsing organizations, including non governmental and autonomous organizations [1], launched an initiative on the Right to Water in order to start a process of reflection regarding water related issues from a human rights perspective.
On the occasion of the 3rd Human Rights Fair of Mexico City, the organizations provided information and talks on economic, social, cultural and environmental rights, particularly on the human right to water, including educational activities for children. Indeed, raising awareness among the public and especially among children is of particular importance in light of the water crisis that Mexico and the world are facing, both in terms of availability and in terms of the dramatic inequality in access to water.
Here is some data that can help us understand the gravity of this issue: over the last 50 years, water consumption has doubled, but the available resources have remained the same. In addition, a child born in a developed country uses up 30 to 50 times more water than its counterpart in a developing country. Finally, every day 25,000 people die of malnutrition, 6,000 of them (mostly children aged 5 or less) from diseases caused by contaminated water.
Still, there is good news regarding the social struggle for water and it is important to acknowledge the work of civil society movements in this regard. In Uruguay, for instance, movements have managed to include in the constitution, through democratic mechanisms, the concept of water as a fundamental human right, establishing basic rules so that the management of water resources remain public and based on the principles of social participation and sustainability.
The Human Rights Fair of Mexico City is undoubtedly a step in the right direction to raise awareness on the human right to water among the public, as suggested in the General Comment No. 15 of the United Nations Commission for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This event enabled the city’s inhabitants to become acquainted with the problems related to the enjoyment of this right, problems which could worsen unless adequate policies and legislation for the sustainable development and the protection of water resources are designed and implemented and unless awareness and a culture of responsibility are encouraged.
The next goal of the endorsing organizations, beyond awareness raising and sharing experiences, will be the promotion of Mexico City’s Intersectional Forum on the Right to Water, which will take place during the first quarter of 2005. The Forum will involve executive and legislative authorities as well as human rights organizations, autonomous state bodies, academia and the private sector. In addition, the Forum will be an opportunity for long term coordination and collaboration with initiatives promoted by international human rights organizations and networks on the issues of justiciability and enforcement of the human right to water.
Organizations for the promotion of the human right to water:
- Espacio de Coordinación de Organizaciones Civiles sobre DESC (Espacio DESC), which consists of:
Casa y Ciudad de Coalición Hábitat México,
Cátedra UNESCO de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez
Centro de Estudios Sociales y Culturales Antonio de Montesinos
Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral, Centro de Fomento Cultural y Educativo
Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos,
DECA Equipo Pueblo
Defensoría del Derecho a la Salud
FIAN Sección México
Liga Mexicana de Defensa de Derechos Humanos
Oficina Regional para América Latina y el Caribe de la Coalición Internacional del Hábitat
Un área del Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la UNAM
- Centro de Servicios Municipales Heriberto Jara
- Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental
- Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Distrito Federal
- Procuraduría Ambiental y del Ordenamiento Territorial del Distrito Federal
- Comisión Especial para la Gestión Integral del Agua de la Asamblea Legislativa del Distrito Federal
[1] Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Distrito Federal and Procuraduría Ambiental y del Ordenamiento Territorial del Distrito Federal. In addition, Comisión Especial para la Gestión Integral del Agua de la Asamblea Legislativa del Distrito Federal.
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