On July 28th, the UN General Assembly voted in favor of recognizing clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right. 122 of 192 member nations voted in favor of the non-binding resolution, no nation voted against it. However, 44 member nations did abstained from voting. The US was in that 44.
Over 900 million people do not have access to clean water. More than 1.5 million children under the age of 5 die every year from lack of clean water and sanitation. The vote was a gesture by many nations that they were committed to bringing clean water to as many people as possible.
In light of the huge trend in water privatization and monetization around the world, this vote expressed the widespread feeling that water cannot be treated as just another commodity.
If humans need clean drinking water to live, like they need air, than water cannot be put on the market to the highest bidder.
The US, the UK, Canada, Australia and Botswana were among the countries which did not vote. The US expressed concerns that the resolution was not consistent with international law regarding water and might undermine future international law regarding water.









