The right route to a human right?

摘要

For a text so short, there is a lot wrong with the UN resolution on the human right to water and sanitation, adopted by the General Assembly in July.rnThe main complaint is regarding the process behind it. The draft text put to the vote had not been prepared through a process of consensus within the UN system. Plus it is an initiative outside of the ongoing work of the UN being carried out by the Human Rights Council.rnThen there is the question as to just what States are being asked to support. Human rights are universal and inalienable rights that States assume an obligation and duty to respect, protect and take positive action to fulfil. Are States prepared to make that commitment? What does it mean in practice? And given the diversity of what it might mean, are States even asreeina to the same thine?