Bringing U.S. Failures on Our Equal Right to Water to the World Stage

Report on Discrimination in U.S. Water Policy

Clean Water

• Clean Water

Introduction

A new report from Northeastern University’s Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) highlights the discriminatory nature of U.S. water policy and infrastructure, particularly affecting Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

The ICCPR is an important international human rights law that emphasizes the right to life without discrimination. However, the U.S. is failing to fulfill its promises under this treaty, including ensuring equal access to water for all.

Water Inequality in the U.S.

Access to safe and affordable water in the U.S. is closely tied to race, income, and immigration status. This issue gained national attention during the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, which disproportionately affected the city’s majority-Black residents.

PHRGE’s Report and Engagement with the UN Human Rights Committee

PHRGE presented its report on U.S. water failures to the United Nations Human Rights Committee during its review of the country’s compliance with international law. This engagement allows advocates to directly address federal agencies and decision-makers, fostering coalition-building and advocacy for change.

Taking Water and Civil Rights to the World Stage

The report aims to bring attention to the issue of water discrimination on the global stage, leveraging international law to advocate for change. This is the first time water has been included in the Human Rights Committee’s agenda, thanks to the advocacy of organizations like Food & Water Watch.

How the U.S. Fails to Ensure the Right to Water Equally

The report highlights various ways in which the U.S. fails to protect the right to water for all its citizens. These failures include unaffordable water prices, contamination from agricultural and industrial sources, inadequate infrastructure, and inconsistent water supplies. Moreover, these issues disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

The Water Crisis in Jackson, Mississippi

The report specifically focuses on the ongoing water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, as an example of the U.S.’s failure to protect the right to water. Community members in Jackson shared testimonies about the mismanagement of the water utility and the lack of transparency and accountability in addressing water contamination and stoppages.

Privatization and Climate Change

The report also discusses how privatization of water utilities and climate change further threaten equal access to water. Privatization often leads to higher water rates, reducing affordability for low-income communities, particularly Black communities. Climate change exacerbates water scarcity through droughts and contamination, disproportionately impacting historically marginalized communities.

Recommendations for Ensuring the Right to Water

The report recommends several actions to ensure all people in the U.S. can access safe and affordable water. These include transparency in water utilities’ communications and hiring practices, increased funding through legislation like the WATER Act, and improved data collection and reporting on water access and affordability.

Engagement with the Human Rights Council

The report has garnered interest from the UN Human Rights Committee, with committee members expressing concerns about transparency issues in U.S. water policies. The report’s authors hope that the committee’s formal conclusions will validate their recommendations and contribute to holding the U.S. accountable for its failures in delivering the right to water.

Conclusion

The report serves as a documentation of the U.S.’s failures in ensuring equal access to water and aims to create relationships with Human Rights Committee members and U.S. agency officials. By continuing advocacy efforts and holding decision-makers accountable, the report’s authors seek to address the systemic discrimination in U.S. water policy and infrastructure.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the issues of access to clean water, discrimination in water policies, and the impact of climate change on water resources. These issues are directly connected to SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The article also highlights the disproportionate impact of these issues on marginalized communities, which aligns with SDG 10’s goal of reducing inequalities. Additionally, the article mentions the impact of climate change on water resources, linking it to SDG 13’s target of strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• SDG 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

The article emphasizes the need for universal access to safe and affordable drinking water (SDG 6.1) and adequate sanitation and hygiene (SDG 6.2). It also highlights the importance of addressing the disproportionate impact of water issues on marginalized communities, aligning with SDG 10.2. Furthermore, the article discusses the impact of climate change on water resources, which relates to SDG 13.1.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

The article does not explicitly mention these indicators, but they can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators provide specific metrics for assessing the proportion of the population with access to safe drinking water and sanitation services (Indicators 6.1.1 and 6.2.1), the level of income inequality (Indicator 10.2.1), and the impact of climate-related hazards on human populations (Indicator 13.1.1).

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: foodandwaterwatch.org

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