Holy See: Access to safe drinking water basic human right

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Holy See: Access to safe drinking water basic human right

Chargé d'Affairs of the Vatican's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva says access to safe drinking water is a basic human right.

By Lisa Zengarini

“Water is not a commodity; it is a universal symbol and source of life and health. It is therefore necessary to ensure drinking water and hygienic services for all”, the Holy See says.

Speaking at an Interactive Dialogue on Water and Sanitation, organized in Geneva during the 48th Session of the Human Rights Council, Msgr John Putzer, chargé d'affaires of the Vatican Permanent Mission to the UN, reiterated that universal access to drinking water is “central to promoting the dignity of the human person” and has always been a priority for the Holy See. He was referring to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, which raises awareness of the gravity of the global water crisis that humanity is facing and which is aggravated by the financialization of water, climate change, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Climate change and  the COVID-19 pandemic have widened the water gap

“Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights”, Msgr Putzer said quoting His Holiness Pope Francis' words. “Unfortunately – he noted - even in our age of progress and technological advances, “access to safe, drinkable water is not within everyone's reach” and this “water gap is further aggravated by the harmful effects of climate change and the current health crisis” …

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