Belgium: government recognises water as a human right, more development aid for water

Updated - Wednesday 20 April 2005

On 19 April 2005, the Belgian federal government has adopted a "water resolution" in which it recognises access to safe water as a human right that should be included in the Belgian constitution. The resolution also calls for a significant increase in development aid for drinking water and sanitation, taking into account that access and distribution of water remains in public hands and that developing countries should not be pressurised by international financial or trade institutions to liberalise or privatise their water markets. Other elements of the resolution stress user involvement (especially of women), integrated water resources management, strengthening the capacities of central and local government, progressive water tariffs to protect the poor, and the establishment of an international "water court" under the auspices of the UN.

The adoption of the water resolution is the result of a successful campaign initiated in 2003 by 11.11.11, the Coalition of the Flemish North South Movement in Belgium, which represents some 465 NGOs, unions, movements and solidarity groups. The Coalition was also one of the leaders of a consortium of civil society groups that, on World Water Day 2005, called on the European Union (EU) to end its preoccupation with private sector expansion in developing countries and instead support "workable public water delivery options."

Related news: Funding: WaterAid call to action, UK doubles aid for water in Africa, Source - , 8 Apr 2005 ; AiD; donors spending lesson water, OECD, Source, 24 Jan 2005 ; Right to water: global water action platform discussed at World Social Forum, Source - , 7 Apr 2005

Contact: 11.11.11, info@11.be, http://www.11.be

Source: 11.be - (in Dutch), 18 Apr 2005 ; Stefania Bianchi, IPS, 21 Mar 2005