HRWatSan: Status in National Constitutions

Explicit vs implicit Constitutional Rights

  • Explicit water rights (clear constitutional text mentioning water): listed here down with articles.
  • Implicit rights: Some countries have constitutional or regional provisions interpreted to support water rights, though not always as clearly standalone rights.
    Many countries do not have explicit constitutional language but protect related rights (e.g., right to health, right to adequate standard of living) that courts have interpreted to include water.

Country specific information about the Constitutional Rights to Water (and sometimes Sanitation) by continent, in alphabetical order

Drawn from humanright2water.org, ohchr.org and other sources.

Africa

  1. Algeria – Constitution Article 64 references access to water as a public good. Source: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf
  2. Benin – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water (in French): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Etude-Cooperation-Decentralisee-Benin_version-definitive.pdf
  3. Botswana – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See the Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2016): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/33/49/Add.3 and the Followup report (2019): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/42/47/ADD.5
  4. Burkina Faso – Constitution Article 18 – access to water recognized in rights framework. Source (comparative review): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf
  5. Chad – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water (in French): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mapping-juridique-_Tchad.pdf
  6. Democratic Republic of the Congo – Article 48 of the Constitution (2006, as amended in 2011) explicitly guarantees the right of access to drinking water, with modalities to be determined by law. In addition, Article 53 recognizes the right of every person to a healthy environment, which implicitly encompasses sanitation, public hygiene, and the protection of water resources. At the legislative level, the DRC also has an advanced framework through the National Water Law (Law No. 15/026 of 31 December 2015). UNICEF summary: https://www.unicef.org/drcongo/en/reports/ability-pay-water-services
  7. Egypt – Constitution Article 79 – water is a priority for economic and social rights. Source (comparative review): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf.  See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2010): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/15/31/Add.3
  8. Ethiopia – Constitution Article 90 guarantees access to clean water as part of public health and social security rights. Source (national documents): https://www.ielrc.org/water/doc_hr2.htm
  9. Gambia – Article 216(4) directs the State to facilitate equal access to clean, safe water. Source (national documents): https://www.ielrc.org/water/doc_hr2.htm
  10. Guinea – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water (in French): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mapping-juridique_Guin%C3%A9e.pdf
  11. Kenya – Constitution Article 43(1)(d) guarantees the right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities, and Article 56 requires affirmative action for disadvantaged groups. Source (national documents): https://www.ielrc.org/water/doc_hr2.htm and https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Kenya-Country-Mapping.pdf. See also the Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2015): http://undocs.org/A/HRC/30/39/Add.2
  12. Lesotho – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See the Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2019): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/42/47/Add.1. At the Dakar High-Level Preparatory Meeting in January 2026, Lesotho confirmed its intention to complete accession to the UN Water Convention by the time of the 2026 UN Water Conference in December (see https://unece.org/environment/press/countries-commit-accelerating-accessions-un-water-convention-ahead-2026-un-water).
  13. Libya – Constitution Article 56 ensures access to clean water. Source (comparative review): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf
  14. Malawi – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Malawi submitted two national reports in both 2020 and 2023 on SDG Indicator 6.5.2 measuring transboundary water cooperation, underscoring its commitment to cooperation via agreements and institutional arrangements with its co-riparians. In February 2026, a workshop was held. UNECE communicated: Malawi steps further towards joining UN Water Conventions for water resilience and stronger governance of shared waters.
  15. Mali – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water (in French): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mapping-Juridique_Mali.pdf
  16. Mauritius – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200831-Maurituis-CM-vf6296.pdf
  17. Morocco – Constitution Article 31 includes a duty on the State to facilitate equal access to essential resources including water (reflecting water as a right).
    Source (national documents outline context – not direct English text): https://www.ielrc.org/water/doc_hr2.htm
  18. Namibia – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See the Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2013): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/21/42/Add.3 and the Statement at the conclusion of the visit (2011): https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2011/07/press-statement-mission-namibia-4-11-july-2011
  19. Niger – Constitution Article 12 enshrines the right to water as a constitutional right. Source (comparative review): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf  (humanright2water.org) and https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mapping-juridique_Niger.pdf
  20. Senegal – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water (in French): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mapping-juridique_S%C3%A9n%C3%A9gal55439.pdf. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2013): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/21/42/Add.1
  21. Somalia – Constitution Article 27(1) recognizes citizens’ right to necessary resources including water. Source (comparative review):  https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf. At the Dakar High-Level Preparatory Meeting in January 2026, Somalia confirmed its intention to complete accession to the UN Water Convention by the time of the 2026 UN Water Conference in December (see https://unece.org/environment/press/countries-commit-accelerating-accessions-un-water-convention-ahead-2026-un-water).
  22. South Africa – Section 27 of the Constitution guarantees the right to water and calls for government to take reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realization of the right to water. South African Government https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/water-and-sanitation-water-security-south-africa-parliament-12-nov-2024
  23. Tunisia – While not explicitly water-specific, the constitutional right to a healthy environment supports indirect water rights. (See environmental rights article with context.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_healthy_environment_in_Tunisia See also the Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2022): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/54/32/Add.1
  24. Uganda –  The National Constitution, the Water Act, the National Environment Act, the Public Health Act as well as other main legal documents embrace various provisions that relate to water supply and sanitation services. The Constitution confirms the State’s objective to ensure that all Ugandans enjoy rights and opportunities and clean and safe water under General social and economic objectives (Objective XIV). https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf and https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Uganda-Country-Mapping.pdf. At the Dakar High-Level Preparatory Meeting in January 2026, Uganda confirmed its intention to complete accession to the UN Water Convention by the time of the 2026 UN Water Conference in December (see https://unece.org/environment/press/countries-commit-accelerating-accessions-un-water-convention-ahead-2026-un-water).
  25. Zimbabwe – Constitution Article 77(a) acknowledges access to clean water. Source: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf

Americas

  1. Bolivia – Article 20 explicitly recognizes universal access to water and sanitation as human rights that cannot be privatized. National law document: https://www.ielrc.org/water/doc_hr2.htm
  2. Brazil – While Brazil has a robust Constitution, it does not explicitly recognise the human rights to water and sanitation. Instead, these rights are upheld through the interpretation of related constitutional guarantees (see here). Source: https://humanright2water.org/blog/2025/12/18/turning-the-right-to-water-from-principle-into-practice/ and https://humanright2water.org/blog/2025/01/23/right-to-water-and-sanitation-in-brazil/. See also the Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2014): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/27/55/ADD.1
  3. Canada – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo Agudo, visited Canada from 8 to 19 April 2024. His report (A/HRC/57/48/Add.1), presented at the 57th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (9 September–9 October 2024) contains his findings and recommendations to Canada. See https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/57/48/Add.1
  4. Colombia – Water in the Colombian legal system has a double connotation, as a fundamental right and as a public service, but the right to water is not explicitly recognized under the Constitution of Colombia (1991). See https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/210130-CM-Colombia-EN.pdf
  5. Costa Rica – Constitution refers to water as part of public domain or human need. Comparative review: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf. Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2009): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/12/24/Add.1
  6. Dominican Republic – Constitution recognizes water and, in practice, sanitation rights. https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/hrdp04/chapter/sanitation-as-a-human-rights-international-law-policy/
  7. Ecuador – Constitution Article 12 enshrines water as a human right essential for life. Constitutional analysis: https://www.paho.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/water-sanitation-human-rights-health.pdf and https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/200601-CM-Ecuador-SP.pdf
  8. El Salvador – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water (in Spanish): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20180129_LegalMapping-El-Salvador.pdf. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2016): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/33/49/Add.1 and the Followup report (2019): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/42/47/ADD.4
  9. Guatemala – Constitution refers to water as part of public domain or human need. Comparative review: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf  and https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Guatemala.docx.pdf 
  10. Honduras – Constitution Article 145, following its reform in 2013, mentions water rights within the considerations on the right to health. Comparative review: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf
  11. Mexico – The National Constitution confirms water as a national asset over which the Federal Executive maintains authority. This authority includes instituting regulatory provisions as a means of maintaining control over the extraction of groundwater. (2017) Article 4 of the Constitution includes the right to water and, by legal interpretation, associated sanitation rights. Constitutional detail (sanitation context): https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/hrdp04/chapter/sanitation-as-a-human-rights-international-law-policy/ and https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mexico-Country-Mapping.pdf. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2017): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/36/45/Add.2 and Followup report (2020): A/HRC/45/10/Add.1 (in Spanish).
  12. Nicaragua – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CM_Nicaragua_en.pdf
  13. Panama – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water (Spanish): https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/210512-CM-Panama-SP.pdf
  14. Peru – Constitution refers to water as part of public domain or human need. Comparative review: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2022): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/54/32/Add.2
  15. USA – California is the only U.S. state to formally recognise the human right to water through statutory law, explicitly grounding this recognition in international human rights norms. See https://humanright2water.org/blog/2025/12/18/turning-the-right-to-water-from-principle-into-practice/ See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2011): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/18/33/Add.4 and the Statement at the conclusion of the visit: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2011/03/usa-discrimination-accessibility-un-expert-raises-questions-water-and
  16. Uruguay – Constitution Article 47 explicitly guarantees access to clean water and sanitation as fundamental human rights. International legal review (sanitation context): https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/hrdp04/chapter/sanitation-as-a-human-rights-international-law-policy/. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2013): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/21/42/Add.2
  17. Venezuela – Constitution references rights to water (interpreted to include sanitation). Reference: https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/hrdp04/chapter/sanitation-as-a-human-rights-international-law-policy/

Asia-Pacific

  1. Aotearoa / New Zealand – In the absence of a written constitution through which such rights could be formally entrenched, New Zealand has adopted a range of legislative, policy, and regulatory measures to safeguard the human rights to water and sanitation. See https://humanright2water.org/blog/2025/12/18/turning-the-right-to-water-from-principle-into-practice/ and the HR2W Country Country Assessment (2025): https://humanright2water.org/blog/2026/01/27/new-zealand-blog/
  2. Bangladesh – On February 27, 2025, the High Court Division delivered a landmark judgment which declared that access to safe and potable water is an inherent component of the Right to Life under Article 32 of the Constitution. This judicial pronouncement was published on January 1, 2026 (see here). See also Menstrual Health Management Assessment Report by HumanRight2Water: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/250808-HR2W-MHM-Bangladesh-2.pdf and the Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2010): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/15/55
  3.  Fiji – Constitution includes water rights (progressive realization). Comparative review: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf
  4. India – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/India-CLM-eng.pdf. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2018): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/39/55/Add.1 and the Followup report (2020): https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/45/10/Add.2 
  5. Iraq – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. 2023, Iraq has acceded to the UN Water Convention. See https://unece.org/accession-iraq-tir-convention-1975
  6. Japan – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Japan-Legal-Country-Mapping-Final-WC-Template.pdf. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2011): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/18/33/Add.3 and the Statement at the conclusion of the visit: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2010/07/press-statement-united-nations-independent-expert-issue-human-rights-obligations
  7. Jordan – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2013): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/27/55/Add.2. On February 17, 2026, Jordan has acceded to the UN Water Convention as 59th party. See: https://unece.org/climate-change/press/jordan-joins-un-water-convention-water-scarcity-and-climate-pressures
  8. Kazakhstan  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. In Januar 2026, Kazakhstan joined the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all, See UNECE, 19. January 2026
  9. Kiribati – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2013): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/24/44/Add.1
  10. Malaysia – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2019): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/42/47/ADD.2
  11. Maldives – Constitution Article 23 guarantees clean water and adequate sanitation/ sewage infrastructure. National document summary: https://www.ielrc.org/water/doc_hr2.htm
  12. Mongolia – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2018): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/39/55/Add.2 and the Followup report (2020): https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/45/10/Add.3
  13. Nepal – The Right to Water or Sanitation is mentioned in the Constitution. See https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WL-Country-Mapping-Nepal.pdf
  14. Tajikistan – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2016): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/33/49/Add.2 and the Followup report (2019): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/42/47/ADD.6 
  15. Thailand – Constitution Section 72 includes ecological and resource rights including water. Comparative review: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2013): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/24/44/Add.3
  16. Turkey / Türkiye – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/191118-Turkey-Country-Map.pdf
  17. Tuvalu – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2013): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/24/44/Add.2

Europe

  1. Albania  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Albania ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  2. Austria  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Austria ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  3. Belgium  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Belgium ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  4. Bulgaria  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Bulgaria ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  5. Denmark  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Denmark ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  6. Estonia  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Estonia ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  7. Finland  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Finland ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  8. France – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/France-County-Map-19.7.2018.pdf. France ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  9. Germany – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See Legal Country Mapping by HumanRight2Water: https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WL-Country-Mapping-Germany.pdf. Germany ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  10. Greece  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Greece ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  11. Ireland  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. At the Dakar High-Level Preparatory Meeting in January 2026, Ireland confirmed its intention to complete accession to the UN Water Convention by the time of the 2026 UN Water Conference in December (see https://unece.org/environment/press/countries-commit-accelerating-accessions-un-water-convention-ahead-2026-un-water).
  12. Italy  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Italy ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  13. Latvia  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Latvia ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  14. Lithuania  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Lithuania ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  15. Luxembourg  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Luxembourg ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  16. Netherlands  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. The Kingdom of the Netherlands ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  17. Norway  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Norway ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  18. Poland  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Poland ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  19. Portugal – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2017): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/36/45/Add.1 and the Followup report (2019): https://docs.un.org/A/HRC/42/47/ADD.3. Portugal ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  20. Romania  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Romania ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  21. Russian Federation  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Russia ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  22. Slovenia – Constitution Article 70(a) explicitly recognizes the right to water. Comparative review:  https://humanright2water.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/241216-Constitutional-Review.pdf. See also: Country Visit Report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (2011): https://undocs.org/A/HRC/18/33/Add.2, the Preliminary note on the mission to Slovenia: https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g10/158/79/pdf/g1015879.pdf, and the Statement at the conclusion of the visit: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2010/05/statement-united-nations-expert-human-rights-water-and
  23. Spain  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Spain ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  24. Sweden  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Sweden ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  25. Switzerland  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. Switzerland ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
  26. United Kingdom  – No Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in the Constitution. The UK has signed, but not ratified the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health supporting safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for all.

Notes on Sanitation

  • Some constitutions (e.g., Uruguay) explicitly mention sanitation alongside water.
  • Others imply sanitation when referring to health, environment, or adequate living conditions.
  • A few legal reviews list  Colombia, Panama, Zambia, and others as having constitutional provisions interpreted to include sanitation, though the language varies. (E-Books Inflibnet)

Additional ressources:

Enshrining water and sanitation in the constitution does not guarantee access to safe water and sanitation for everyone. The implementation depends on laws and their enforcement, the accountability of institutions, and the availability and allocation of financial means and human resources. But constitutional recognition creates a strong legal basis for defending access to clean water and sanitation in courts and shapes national water policy — offering a higher level of legal protection than statutory law alone.

On 28 July 2010, the General Assembly of the United Nations accepted the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation by adopting Resolution 64/292. After more than 15 years, it is time for states to comply.

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