Is there an international legally binding document on the right to water ?
No. An international document guaranteeing that everyone has a right to safe and affordable water, which would be binding for national governments and that, most importantly, would provide a model and mechanism for the implementation of this right, does not exist. In spite of this being a critical situation, governments, with few exceptions, are reluctant to open negotiations for a new international law. An important step in the right direction was made in November 2002, when the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) recognized the right to water as a fundamental human right. This should, in theory, commit the 145 states that have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to gradually ensure fair and non-discriminatory access to safe drinking water. Unfortunately, the status of the CESCR’s interpretation of this document does not confer a legally binding governmental obligation. It is the reason why Green Cross International and
