Human Right to Water

On July 28, 2010 the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of recognizing the human rights to water and sanitation. The resolution – put forward by Bolivia and 35 other states – passed with 124 states voting in favour and 42 abstaining. It is noteworthy that Canada abstained, appearing to maintain its position regarding concerns about Canada potentially being forced to give away Canadian water to those in need (although the legal validity of this position is uncertain).

The Council of Canadians asserts that "Canada's abstention from the vote will not excuse it from the work that needs to be done to maintain and improve its public water and sanitation systems for all peoples living in Canada, including Indigenous communities who have lived for generations without adequate infrastructure.”

I agree this is a positive step, especially regarding access to basic needs and entitlements. One word of caution, however. I have always worried that Indigenous Rights to water may be be forgotten, or ignored, in the rush to guarantee a human right to water. International rights are always implemented within a domestic, or country, context, and it is also within that context that Aboriginal peoples in Canada possess rights to water. We need to understand where Indigenous Rights to water stand with regards to this now internationally accepted but domestically implemented human right to water. We need to ensure that Indigenous rights to water are protected, while ensuring basic water needs of human beings and the environment are met.