Netherlands: new Minister for Development Cooperation to push for right to water

Updated - Tuesday 10 April 2007

In a speech delivered on World Water Day, 22 March 2007, the new Minister for Development Cooperation, Bert Koenders, announced that he wants the Netherlands to play a prominent role in getting the right to water recognised as a human right. Koenders said that this is necessary to make water a political priority. He also wants Dutch embassies to push for the right to water at country level.

More important, though, said Koenders, was the realisation of the right to water in practice. The Netherlands is contributing to this through its programme to give 50 million people access to safe water and sanitation by 2015. So far contracts have been signed for projects that provide safe water to 32 million people and sanitation to 25 million.

The Minister added that the Netherlands would continue to work with multilateral organizations, NGOs and the private sector. Koenders said he was aware of the risks of privatisation, but that both public and private partners should remain involved.

Regarding financing options, Koenders said he would talk to ABP, the pension fund for the Dutch government and educational sectors, about investing in water infrastructure in developing countries together with local pension funds.

Related news: Sector reform: UK recognises right to water, launches Global Action Plan, Source Weekly, 7 Dec 2006 ; Netherlands: development budget, water and sanitation for five million more people in 2006, Source Weekly, 3 Nov 2005

Web site: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Dutch aim for MDG7

Source: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs [in Dutch], 22 Mar 2007