On World Water Day, Groups Urge U.S. Visit by UN’s Expert
on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation

WASHINGTON, D.C.///March 22, 2010///Today, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee - an ICCR member - delivered a sign-on letter to Secretary Clinton urging the U.S. State Department to agree to an official U.S. visit by the UN Independent Expert (IE) on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. The full text of the sign-on letter is below:

March 22, 2010

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton:

We write as faith-based and humanitarian organizations in support of the request of Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque, United Nations Human Rights Council appointed Independent Expert on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation, to visit the United States on mission during 2010 as a part of the United Nations Human Rights Council study on good practices in the water sector. Our organizations work in a variety of ways to ensure universal, sustainable access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use. We ask that your office accept the Independent Expert’s mission to the United States, allocate sufficient staff time to make the visit a success, and invite U.S. organizations and institutions, including faith communities and humanitarian organizations, to participate in the visit.

A core part of our work supports the full implementation of existing human rights obligations. We see development and foreign aid policies as important means to achieve the needed financing for the implementation of human rights obligations. UN member states, represented in the UN agencies, agree that the implementation of the human right to water is a key means to addressing the global water and sanitation crisis. The UN Human Rights Council, and the member states that make up the Council, are engaged in a process to define the scope and content of the human right to water. The Independent Expert’s work to identify good practices is a critical step in the effort of the Council.

Ms. de Albuquerque is studying good practices for the implementation of the human right to water and sanitation at the country level. The U.S. has experience that could make an important contribution to the Independent Expert’s study. Many U.S. states, cities and towns have considered the needs of vulnerable communities and individuals with regard to water and sanitation services, and some have implemented important policies and technologies advancing the human right to water. In addition, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act and the targeting of funding for water and sanitation services for vulnerable communities overseas is increasingly effective. The U.S. has many experiences to share that may be of assistance to the mission of the Independent Expert, and the UN Human Rights Council.

The U.S. also has challenges; particularly notable are climate change adaptation needs and related impacts on water services, lack of sufficient financial resources for infrastructure, especially during times of economic crisis, and significant demographic changes that challenge local authorities’ abilities to meet needs.  The U.S. approach to these and other challenges could make an important contribution to the global community's efforts to provide safe, affordable water for all.  

We are very encouraged by President Obama's interest in the broader goal of providing safe drinking water for vulnerable communities at home and abroad, and your work with regard to the implementation of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act.  The U.S. could positively inform Ms. de Albuquerque's work and advance this important area of human rights policy at the international level, and address the global water and sanitation crisis, and we hope that our administration will consider working with Ms. de Albuquerque on her mission to the United States.

Sincerely,

Catholic Health East
Center of Concern
Church World Service
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
Corporate Accountability International
Food and Water Watch
Institute Justice Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Medical Mission Sisters Alliance for Justice
Midwest Coalition for Responsible Investment
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Justice, Peace/Integrity of Creation Office
National Council of Churches
PLANT (Partners for the Land and Agricultural Needs of Traditional Peoples)
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Washington Office
Region VI Coalition for Responsible Investment
SHARE Foundation
Sisters of Charity - Corporate Responsibility Committee
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Justice Team
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Associates
The Partnership for Earth Spirituality, Albuquerque, New Mexico
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

cc:

Ms. Esther Brimmer
Assistant Secretary
International Organization Affairs

Ms. Maria Otero
Under Secretary
Democracy and Global Affairs

Mr. Michael H. Posner
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor