Proper sanitation becomes separate UN human right in enhanced fight against deadly infections

With more than 2.5 billion people worldwide, one third of the total population, living without access to proper toilets, the United Nations General Assembly has recognised sanitation as a separate human right in a bid to curb a major source of deadly infections. “It gives people a clearer perception of the right, strengthening their capacity to claim this right when the State fails to provide the services or when they are unsafe, unaffordable, inaccessible or with inadequate privacy,” UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of safe drinking water and sanitation Léo Heller said. The Assembly adopted a resolution earlier this month recognizing the distinct nature of the right to sanitation in relation to the right to safe drinking water, while keeping the rights together. Mr. Heller said it would help governments and non-governmental organizations to specifically focus on what needs to be done to realize the right. Lack of sanitation has a...