1. _____________________________________________ Water and Sanitation and Human Rights at the Green Economy SDE Seminars Towards Rio+20 Paulo Teixeira Regional Advisor on Urban Health

2. Background on Rio + 20 La OMS y la Salud The conference will focus on two themes (i) Green Economy within the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and (ii) the institutional framework for sustainable development. The objectives of UNCSD 2012 (Rio+20) are: securing renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed commitments, and addressing new and emerging challenges.

3. Water and Sustainable Development linkages among water and sanitation and the multiple facets of the green economy water and the green economy are co-dependent: employment, pollution control; the lack of water for all impede the efforts to eradicate poverty, economic grown achieve an equitable society and achieve sustainable development; there is no green economy without water and sanitation: which economy can survive without water? green economy = human well-being, social equity, reducing/control environmental risks and water scarcities= peace

4. Evidences for public policies focused on human rights and public health results Inequities in access to water and sanitation among different countries Urban-rural inequity, Inequity based on income, Inequity in health Financing to reduce inequities Policy Brief on Water and Sanitation

5. Cont. Water and sanitation distribution policies that fulfill human rights Policies that promote equitable access to drinking water and sanitation Effectiveness of water and sanitation interventions in improving the health status of the population and, implications for distribution policies Sustainability and cost-effectiveness of water and sanitation interventions

6. Water for all: human right “ Health is a fundamental human right indispensable for the exercise of other rights. Every human being should be entitled to the highest attainable standard of health to live on. And since there can be no health without water and sanitation, therefore the right to health includes the right of access to safe water and basic sanitation” UN Resolution 64/24/2010

7. Evidence Based Outcomes Review WS and SD Policies : addressing “out of the water box issues” and specifically that the key drivers impacting the condition, use and management of water resources are all external to the water box. New regulatory framework and institutional framework within which water managers operate promote governance (leaders, governments, civil society and private sector) Guide a new sustainable economic approach ‘ business-as- usual’ doesn’t work in a green economy and identifying possible pathways to get there will be a major task for the Rio+20 Summit. The business as usual approach must change and the new approach Put in evidence the need of “low scale” & adequate technology facilities ( sewage, drainage, solid waste ) Rationale to improve efficiency towards universal access: water is the bloodstream of the green economy

8. Paving the way towards Rio+20 and beyond Examples: The Rio + 20 agenda should include objectives and targets on (a) access to safe drinking water and sanitation; (b) wastewater management; and (c) solid waste management securing renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already water and sanitation agreed commitments addressing new and emerging challenges.

9. Final Messages The Green Economy highly depends on Water and Sanitation The ongoing UNCSD Preparatory Committees are the best promote the inclusion of water and sanitation on the Rio+20 agenda. UN-Water and the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) are coordinating the process of Rio+20 Preparatory Committee: How the Green Economy depends on Water (March 7, in NYC)