Water as a human right for the Middle East and North Africa

Water as a human right for the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: A.K. Biswas; E. Rached; C. Tortajada
Publisher: International Development Research Centre , 2008

In 1992, a United Nations declaration proclaimed water as a human right. However, the water profession and the vast majority of governments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have not paid much attention.

This online book systematically analyses the legal development of the concept of water as a human right with particular reference to MENA countries. It considers:
Implications for national governments, and international and national organisations
Progress made in different MENA countries - in particular the Palestinian Occupied Territories, Egypt and Lebanon
Water governance and rights-based approaches
The right to water and the MDGs
The role of civil society and the private sector
Obstacles to universal access to water-related services and how they can be overcome.
[adapted from the authors]
Available online at: www.eldis.org/go/topics/resource-guides/health&id=42063&type=Document