Organizations denounce São Paulo’s water crisis in the UN

Organizations warn that the water crisis in the state is unprecedented

Conectas and Alliance for Water will denounce the water crisis in the state of São Paulo at the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) this Friday, March 20.

In an oral statement, the organizations will warn about the imminent collapse of the water supply in the region, which threatens the human right of access to water.

“The largest and richest metropolitan region in the country is facing the worst water crisis of its history. Our main reservoirs have almost been depleted, posing a risk to the water supply for millions of people,” reads an excerpt of the statement.

The organizations emphasize that the crisis is a consequence of decades of misguided water management and conservation policies and criticize the indiscriminate use of de facto rationing, called “pressure reduction” by the government, which mainly impacts the most vulnerable communities.

By making the denouncement, the organizations hope to engage the mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council in defense of the human right of access to water for São Paulo’s residents, such as the UN Special Rapporteur for Water. The statement is scheduled to be given on the morning of March 20.

Conectas has consultative status in the United Nations, which allows it to participate in the sessions of the Council. Gathering civil society representatives and governments from 47 member states, including Brazil, the HRC is the preeminent body for discussion on the topic of human rights.

Click here to read the full oral statement showed on United Nations.

Watch the full audience of the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council: