Malala Yousafzai's Speech at the United Nations on July 12, 2013
2013 · New York City, United States
Malala Yousafzai gave a speech at the United Nations advocating for worldwide access to education, marking her 16th birthday as 'Malala Day.'
United Nations Declares Access to Clean Water and Sanitation a Basic Human Right
On October 18, 2010, the United Nations took a significant step towards recognizing the importance of water and sanitation by declaring access to clean drinking water and sanitation a basic human right. This declaration was an affirmation of the General Assembly resolution that had been passed earlier in the year, on July 28, 2010, which recognized the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.
Context
The adoption of this declaration by the United Nations was driven by mounting concerns over global water scarcity and sanitation challenges. At the time, approximately 884 million people were estimated to lack access to clean drinking water, and over 2.6 billion people did not have access to basic sanitation facilities. These conditions were understood to contribute significantly to disease, mortality, and the impediments toward achieving global development goals.
Key Resolution Highlights
Recognition: The UN recognized clean drinking water and sanitation as essential to the realization of all other human rights.
Encouragement: The resolution called upon states and international organizations to provide financial resources, capacity-building, and technology transfer to help countries, particularly developing ones, to provide safe, clean, accessible, and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all.
Health and Well-being: Acknowledged the dire implications of inadequate access to water and sanitation on public health, dignity, and the quality of life of millions of people, particularly in developing regions.
Aftermath and Significance
- Global Impact: This resolution provided a clear framework that supported international and national policy reforms to improve water and sanitation access.
- Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): It aimed to accelerate progress towards the MDGs, particularly those associated with reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating diseases.
- Long-term Implications: The declaration bolstered advocacy efforts for infrastructural investments in water and sanitation, highlighting these needs in subsequent developmental agendas, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In conclusion, the recognition of access to clean drinking water and sanitation as a basic human right marked a pivotal movement in global efforts to combat poverty and health inequality. It underscored the interconnectedness of water and sanitation in achieving overall socio-economic development and human dignity.