OHCHR | Feature Stories

Feature Stories

Public spaces and workplaces left behind in the right to water and sanitation
While many States have made progress in increasing access to water and sanitation in households, it is often the people who rely on services in public spaces and workplaces who are being left behind.
14 October 2019

Sanitation acknowledged as human right
More than 2.5 billion still lack access to adequate sanitation, leaving them vulnerable to a variety of challenges. Sanitation is now being recognized as a distinct human right.
30 December 2015

Water and sanitation rights explained
Governments, donors and national regulatory bodies who want to take a human rights approach to water and sanitation provision now have a guide. “Realising the human rights to water and sanitation” is a new handbook that provides information and guidance on how to take a human rights approach to the issue.
27 November 2014

Every woman’s right to water, sanitation and hygiene
Human rights and health experts held an interactive dialogue on women’s advances in securing their rights and dignity in topics related to water, sanitation, and hygiene during a special event at the United Nations in Geneva.
14 March 2014

Stigma: an obstacle to universal access to water and sanitation
Stigma and the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation is the focus of a report of the UN expert on water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque.
5 October 2012

The human right to safe drinking water and sanitation
The UN expert on water and sanitation calls for explicit references to the human right to water and sanitation in the outcome document from the Rio + 20 Conference.
14 June 2012

Rio+20 and human rights on social media: “The Future We Want”
On the occasion of Rio+20, the UN Human Rights Office launches a social media campaign inviting people to speak up for human rights in “The Future We Want.”
6 June 2012

Wanted: Human Rights in Rio
Civil society and UN experts call for an inclusive, just and equitable outcome at the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
2 May 2012

Women and girls and their right to sanitation
About 2.6 billion people live without proper sanitation. Over 1.1 billion people have no sanitation facilities at all. This adversely affects women and girls.
3 October 2011

A landmark decision to make the right to water and sanitation legally binding
The UN Human Rights Council takes a decision which gives legal standing to the right to water and sanitation
6 October 2010

Girls have a right to know
The international community is urged to redouble its resolve to strengthen equality in education and ensure equal access to school for both boys and girls.
18 June 2010

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