Pan American Water Day: Resource management and conflict prevention, key factors for ensuring the human right to water, sanitation and equity – PAHO/WHO

The Pan American Health Organization, in cooperation with AIDIS, is organizing a virtual symposium within the framework of the Inter-American Water Day, which is celebrated on October 7 under the theme Water, human rights and governance: elements of social coordination.

Washington, DC, October 6, 2023 – Integrated and participatory management of water resources and conflict prevention are key to ensuring the human right to water and sanitation and achieving just societies. This was one of the conclusions of the symposium organized by the Pan American Health Organization in cooperation with the Inter-American Association for Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (AIDIS) on the occasion of Inter-American Water Day, which is celebrated this year on October 7 under the theme Water, human rights and governance: elements of social coordination.

The virtual symposium addressed issues such as the most common causes of water conflicts in the Americas region, analysis of tools that can help reduce the resolution times of said social conflicts, and raising awareness about the importance of water as an essential aspect for improving the conservation, preservation and protection of water resources, drinking water supply and water supply chains. Recommendations to countries.

“The main theme is that the right to water is a fundamental human right. It is necessary to analyze the basic elements to avoid conflicts over water and understand their causes, because such conflicts will become increasingly frequent in Latin America,” explained the head of the WHO’s Climate Change and Environmental Determinants of Health Unit. Pan American Health, Daniel Bos.

“In the Americas, 7.6 million people practice open defecation, 430 million people do not have access to safely managed sanitation, and another 160 million people do not have safe access to water, and in 2022, more than 250,000 people in the region were displaced due to… Economic impacts resulting from or exacerbated by environmental factors, such as crop loss due to drought.

He added: “Reality has shown us that intensive use of water by some parties, climate variability and pollution can affect the living conditions of residents and the environment with important consequences for people’s health and well-being.”

He added, “PAHO works with countries to strengthen capacities at all levels, helping to develop water and sanitation safety plans for more than 71 million people in the Americas, enhancing monitoring of pathogens in wastewater and strengthening 139 environmental laboratories.”

AIDIS President, José Luis Inglesi, who spoke at the opening of the event, considered that “inter-institutional work” was essential in terms of water management, approaches and conflict prevention, and noted that “the human right to water is a human right.” It is a right and must be satisfied, not discussed.”

The Head of Economic Affairs of the Water and Energy Unit of the Natural Resources Division of ECLAC, Silvia Saravia, also participated in the opening panel discussion and expressed her regret that “part of the water infrastructure is completely abandoned, both in terms of reservoirs and sewerage.” It focused on conflicts over water in cross-border areas. “71% of the water in Latin America and the Caribbean is in areas shared by two or more countries,” he said.

A human right since 2010

Regarding the analysis of water as a human right, the Regional Advisor for Human Rights at the Pan American Health Organization, Olger González, noted in relation to the conflict over water that “the first obligation of the state is to prevent the violation of human rights, know its causes and address the problem.” “Social and environmental determinants behind conflict.”

Gonzalez noted that water and sanitation have become a human right since the UN General Assembly resolution in 2010, but added that “other human rights often serve as a guarantee of the human right to water and sanitation, such as the right to housing.” Or the right to access information or the right to health.

“The judiciary is not the solution,” Gonzalez said. “Effective oversight and monitoring mechanisms and social participation mechanisms must be strengthened.” The human rights advisor at the Pan American Health Organization added that the right to water is related to people’s health, “and a society that is not healthy will not be a strong democracy, so investing in public health is a way to strengthen democracy.”

Regarding water conflicts, the virtual symposium addressed the cases of Honduras and Chile, presented respectively by AIDIS Presidential Advisor, Myrna Argueta, and responsible for water affairs in the municipality. Petrorca, Vladimir Vicencio Riveros.

Former UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation, Leo Heller, also participated in the event; President of Argentina’s National Water Institute, Juan Carlos Bertone; AIDIS Water Division Director, Patricia Casso; PAHO Regional Advisor for Environmental Health, Luis Francisco Sánchez; and Pan American Health Organization Regional Advisor for Environmental Health, Hildegarde Venero.

Inter-American Water Day (DIAA) has been celebrated annually since 1993 and is organized by the Pan American Health Organization and AIDIS. This year’s edition carries the slogan “Water, Human Rights and Governance: Elements of Social Coordination”.

Virtual seminar (October 6, 2023, organized by PAHO/AIDS)