Rights and Humanity welcomes the UK Government's recognition of the right to water as a fundamental human right and commends its leadership role.

"The right to water is one of the most fundamental of all human rights: essential for life, essential for development. At a time when 5,000 children are dying each day from drinking dirty water, realising this right has to be at the top of everyone's agenda" said Julia Häusermann, President of Rights and Humanity.

"It is scandalous that poor people in poor countries have to pay more than us for their water. Slum dwellers often have to pay five to ten times more than wealthy people just to get access to water. Rural people are often forced to walk for many hours a day just to secure this basic necessity."

The UNDP Human Development Report, published 11 November, 2006, reveals that over I billion people live without access to clean drinking water and 2.6 billion without adequate sanitation. But as UNDP acknowledges, this is not due solely to water scarcity but to poverty, inequality and a failure of governments to implement fair policies.

Rights and Humanity stresses that recognising water as a human right is critical. It means that governments are obliged to take steps to ensure that everyone, without discrimination, has access to affordable clean water whatever their income. The right to water is increasingly being added to national law such as the post-apartheid South African constitution, allowing individuals to challenge policies that deny them access to safe water.

"Priority must be given to ensuring that everyone, everywhere has access to adequate and affordable water and sanitation. Rights and Humanity calls on all governments to take urgent steps to end the discrimination that deny families access to such essential services. This is both a legal and a moral imperative - one that no one can ignore" stated Julia Häusermann.