UN Special Rapporteur to Assess Canada’s Water and Sanitation Rights

Geneva, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, is scheduled to visit Canada in April 2024 to evaluate the country’s compliance with international standards in these critical areas.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Arrojo-Agudo’s visit from April 8 to 19 will involve engagements with various stakeholders, including federal and provincial government officials, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, business representatives, and academics across Ontario, Nunavut, British Columbia, and Alberta.

The Special Rapporteur aims to address multiple aspects of water and sanitation rights, focusing on their availability, accessibility, quality, affordability, and acceptability. His evaluation will cover environmental challenges, the use and management of water resources, and concerns regarding water pollution and toxic contamination.

Arrojo-Agudo’s preliminary observations will be disclosed in a press conference at the end of his visit, with the final comprehensive report to be presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2024.