Legal and policy mappings to access the extent to which the human rights to water and sanitation are included in national legislation provide an invaluable tool for identifying areas of concern.

This review of national and international water governance frameworks is made in with the international human rights legal framework in mind. Through this analysis we can identify laws which support realisation of access to safe water and adequate sanitation. 

Beyond finding the laws which are present, one key component of the mapping involves identifying the gaps within the framework where the laws do not include the various normative criteria for the rights to water and sanitation. The identification of these gaps most significantly provides an opportunity to begin dialogue and action in the way of law and policy reform extending to supporting practical implementation to further the fulfilment of the human rights to water and sanitation.

Scroll down to find Country Legal Mappings published and available to read online and Country Legal Mappings coming soon (South Africa, Ecuador and Colombia). More Country Legal Mappings will be uploaded continuously. Please contact us if you are interested in learning about how to conduct your own Country Legal Mapping.