Is Water a Human Right? Perspective B Perspective A Perspective A Fairness/Justice Human Right - noun (law) any basic right or freedom to which all human beings are entitled and in whose exercise a government may not interfere (including rights to life and liberty as well as freedom of thought and expression and equality before the law) -- Oxford English Dictionary Kantian Aristotelian Utilitarian Perspective A Source 1 Document 4 of Resource Booklet Water is key to development Water is a key social and economic resource for any nation The right to water must be protected for equity as well as sustainable development Water is key to improved health, improved nutrition and quality of life. Perspective A Source 2 righttowater.info/why-the-right-to-water-and-sanitation “Water and sanitation are essential for life, for health, for dignity, empowerment and prosperity. Full recognition of access to water and sanitation as a right gives a real mandate to government officials to promote access to water and sanitation for all. Perspective A Source http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person”. Dignity Deserving Happiness Conclusion Although the Egyptian government are acting with the political and economic interest of their own people, with a utilitarian approach, it could be argued what Egypt is doing in terms of the prevention of Ugandan access to the Nile as a water supply is unjust and therefore a denial of the human rights of the Ugandan people who rely on the Nile as a source of water. It is fair to say that water should be treated as a human right, as it is essential to life, health and human dignity, which, in accordance to the Aristotelian and Kantian perspectives, should be prioritised above wealth and political security. Perspective B Perspective B Perspective B Ugandan Human Rights Abuse? “Can you imagine that Uganda and other countries which harbour the source of all this water cannot command responsibility and authority over the Nile?” “We need to come together to do something about this kind of unfairness.” Egypt/Sudan Agreements 1959: Egypt walked away with 70% (55.5 billion cubic metres of water) and Sudan took 30% (18.5 billion cubic metres) of the Nile water. 1929/1959: “No person or persons, companies or government shall build dams without the permission of the Egyptians”. Political Dilemma “Anyone in Egypt who would sign the new agreement on the Nile would lose his political base.”