Financing of Fresh Water for All : A rights Based Approach

Over the past two decades a number of international declarations have sought to ensure access t o safe water and sanitation with environmental sustainability. A range of criteria and financing mechanisms have been proposed for the mobilisation and allocation of financial resources. Yet millions of people do not have access to basic levels of service and there are concerns about water scarcity and environmental degradation impacting on fresh water resources. There is increasing competition between agriculture, industry and domestic sectors for fresh water which is a finite resources in a given environment. The global fresh water crisis is in fact a local level crisis - in time (at particular periods during the year) and in space (particular locations) - which already exists. This paper argues that the international declarations on human and child rights provide the political, moral, ethical and legal imperative for ensuring that the fundamental right to water is met. Adopting a rights-based approach, it is argued, is consistent and compatible with economic efficiency. Indeed, such an approach is both efficient and equitable.