To the House of Representatives
The petition of Bright Penelope Mary
86A School Road Kingsland Auckland Phone: (09) 846 9825
and others
Respectfully requests that the House upholds and progressively implements the International Human Right to Water, as enshrined in the UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS General Comment No. 15 (2002)
(The right to water (Articles 11 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights) 26 November 2002) , by not passing any further legislation, and repealing any existing legislation which enables ‘volumetric’ charging for water and wastewater services, which disproportionately burden poorer households with water expenses as compared to richer households.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT PRESENTING THIS PETITION
NAME:_______________________ SIGNED:__________________________________
To the House of Representatives
The petition of Penelope Mary Bright of
86A School Road Kingsland Auckland Phone: (09) 846 9825 ; and others
Respectfully requests that the House upholds and progressively implements the International Human Right to Water, as enshrined in the UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS General Comment No. 15 (2002), (the right to water (Articles 11 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights) 26 November 2002) ; by not passing any further legislation, and repealing any existing legislation which enables ‘volumetric’ charging for water and wastewater services, which disproportionately burden poorer households with water expenses as compared to richer households.
OTHER SIGNATORIES:
NAME ADDRESS SIGNED
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[Please post/return filled petition form(s) back to Penny Bright, 86A School Rd, Kingsland Auckland by Friday 24 April 2009, so that all signatures can be counted & petition sent to Parliament on Mon 27 April 2009]
The International Human Right to Water, as enshrined in the UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS General Comment
No. 15 (2002) (The right to water (Articles 11 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic,Social and Cultural Rights) 26 November 2002)
1. Water is a limited natural resource and a public good fundamental for life and health.
The human right to water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity. It is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights.
2. The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.
8. Environmental hygiene, as an aspect of the right to health under article 12(2)(b) of the Covenant, encompasses taking steps on a non-discriminatory basis to prevent threats to health from unsafe and toxic water conditions.
For example, States parties should ensure that natural water resources are protected from contamination by harmful substances and pathogenic microbes.
10. The right to water contains both freedoms and entitlements. The freedoms include the right to maintain access to existing water supplies necessary for the right to water, and the right to be free from interference, such as the right to be free from arbitrary disconnections or contamination of water supplies.
11. The elements of the right to water must be adequate for human dignity, life and health, in accordance with Articles 11(1) and 12. The adequacy of water should not be interpreted narrowly, by mere reference to volumetric quantities and technologies.
Water should be treated as a social and cultural good, and not primarily as an economic good.
27…. Any payment for water services has to be based on the principle of equity, ensuring that these services, whether privately or publicly provided, are affordable for all, including socially disadvantaged groups.
Equity demands that poorer households should not be disproportionately burdened with water expenses as compared to richer households.”