Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation

Statement by Iceland on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries

delivered by

Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Martin Eyjólfsson

14 September 2023

Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and my own country Iceland.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report that emphasizes the importance of restoring the good condition of the aquatic ecosystems that supply water to ensure the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation.

We concur that equal access to drinking water and sanitation goes hand in hand with the importance of climate change adaptation strategies to counter the increasing risks of drought and floods caused by climate change.

The overexploitation and pollution of aquatic ecosystems as well as mismanagement of rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers and their impact on the realization of the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is of great concern. These impacts are disproportionate in territories of those who suffer marginalization and discrimination.

It is clear that democratic water governance based on a human rights approach, is needed, paving the way to a new environmental regeneration model based on sustainability.

Special Rapporteur Indigenous Peoples have effectively protected aquatic ecosystems through their worldviews, practices and knowledge. How can we take this better into account?

I thank you.