Legal assessment tool to recognise vulnerable people

Vulnerable people are the most excluded from access to safe water and sanitation, and the lack of recognition of this fact creates the main stumbling block for States to realise their Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Human Right 2 Water launches a revolutionary assessment tool to support governments to assess how to improve legal and policy frameworks to include provision for all vulnerable groups in their access to water and sanitation. It will be a huge boost for countries that are striving to realise SDG 6 on water.

Launched at the annual UNHCR WASH partner meeting, this legal methodology, developed by WaterLex in consultation with the Protection team at UNHCR, and supported by SDC, enables a robust analysis of the current inclusion of international norms and standards, assessed by vulnerable group.

“35% of refugees globally do not have access to safe water, and 17% are excluded from decent sanitation solutions”, Murray Burt, UNHCR WASH Coordinator

Applied to national situations, the results of this assessment can identify the current governance frameworks that already exist and identify areas or gaps where there is a need for strengthening. It is now available as a resource to development organisations, national planning teams and legal experts. (for information, please contact Human Right 2 Water directly at info@humanright2water.org).