UN Expert to study Japan's key role as biggest international donor to water and sanitation projects

Alumna and UN independent expert Catarina de Albuquerque visited Japan from 20-28 July to collect first hand information and talk with the authorities about the steps taken to ensure that the rights to safe drinking water and sanitation are guaranteed in its territory, as well as the extent to which these rights are promoted through official development aid.

“Japan is the biggest donor in the water and sanitation sectors and its actions have a crucial role for promoting enjoyment of the rights to water and sanitation worldwide,” said the Independent Expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to examine the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

“This mission particularly considered the situation of the most vulnerable groups with a special emphasis on the human rights principles of equality, non-discrimination, participation and accountability,” Ms. de Albuquerque said. During her first visit to Japan, she also focused on issues such as sanitation in remote areas of the country and the challenges to maintenance and improvement of infrastructure.

As human rights, all people, without discrimination, must have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, which is affordable, acceptable, available and safe. States must continually take steps to ensure that access to these fundamental rights is guaranteed.

Ms. de Albuquerque met with Government officials, water and wastewater operators, and representatives from civil society and academia. Besides official
Government meetings in the capital, Tokyo, she also visited Kyoto and Osaka. Her findings and recommendations will be presented in a report to the Human Rights Council.

Catarina de Albuquerque is a Portuguese lawyer currently working as a senior legal adviser at the Office for Documentation and Comparative Law (an independent institution under the Portuguese Prosecutor General’s Office) in the area of human rights. She holds a DES in international relations with a specialization in international law from the Institute in Geneva. She was appointed as Independent Expert in September 2008 and took up her functions in November 2008.

OHCHR Country Page – Japan:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/JPIndex.aspx