Human rights experts urge recognition and guarantee of indigenous peoples' right to water
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In a report to the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, praised the intergenerational water supply of indigenous peoples system, but he was deeply concerned that access to safe drinking water and sanitation had been drastically reduced due to the increasing pressure on natural resources in the territories of indigenous peoples.
Arojo-Agudo said: “Indigenous peoples have always been able to retain worldviews, knowledge and practices from their ancestors. These lessons are now in the context of sustainable management and democratic governance of drinking water and sanitation in the face of the global water crisis. , are exemplary.”
But he said "the right of indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent is often overlooked" in disputes over national sovereignty over water and natural resources, or by manipulating so-called general interests.
He observed that land and water looting, mining, construction of hydroelectric power stations and large-scale development of tourism resources contaminate water resources with toxic substances, affect the livelihoods of indigenous peoples, cause health problems, forcible eviction, displacement, Negative impacts on people's human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Arojo-Agudo told the Human Rights Council that states should recognize their own indigenous peoples and guarantee them the right to control their own water resources in order to realize their human rights to drinking water and sanitation. "I must stress that denying identity and cultural diversity neither strengthens democracy nor promotes equity," he said.
He also urged governments to provide funding to indigenous authorities and institutions to guarantee their rights to water and sanitation.
He highlighted the important role of Indigenous women, who are water caregivers and defenders of the human rights of indigenous peoples, who are often convicted and subjected to violence for defending their water resources.
Arojo-Agudo urged governments and all stakeholders, including the private sector, to respect indigenous peoples' views on water resources and their right to free, prior and informed consent. "Indigenous peoples see water as a common good, not a commodity," he said.
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