Water is fundamentally and essentially an ingredient of human life and, therefore, accessible rights to the right of being alive. The recognition of such an essential human right as potable water has undergone continuous dynamic evolution due to the various developments that have occurred in law, politics, and society worldwide. At first, accessibility to water was seen as a resource management issue. However, it is increasingly becoming more associated with human rights and life issues because shortages, environmental degradation, and the public health crisis have strengthened it into becoming an essential part of the right to life under international law. The first significant global recognition of water as a human right occurred at the 1977 Mar del Plata United Nations Water Conference. However, explicit references to this right only emerged in international human rights frameworks in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The U.N. Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) advanced this recognition with General Comment No. 15 (2002), affirming water as a fundamental human right that must be sufficient, safe, and affordable. This was further reinforced by U.N. General Assembly Resolution 64/292 (2010), which declared that access to safe drinking water and sanitation is essential to all human rights. Legal frameworks such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and Inter-American Court of Human Rights rulings have strengthened state obligations to ensure universal access to clean water. Global initiatives like U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 6 (2015) have further embedded the right to water within policy frameworks, aiming for universal access by 2030. Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain. Inadequate infrastructure, climate change, political instability, and issues like privatization, pollution, and poor resource management hinder equitable water distribution. Legal disputes over transboundary water resources and corporate accountability further complicate enforcement. Civil society organizations, international agencies, and grassroots movements continue to advocate for stronger legal protections and inclusive water governance. Recognizing potable water as part of the Right to life reflects a global commitment to water security, human dignity, and survival. While legal and institutional progress has been made, achieving this right universally depends on effective governance, infrastructure investment, and sustained advocacy. • Recognition of potable water as a fundamental human right. • SDG 6 reinforces global commitment to sustainable water access. • Governance gaps and inequality hinder universal water security. • India links right to water with Article 21 and judicial rulings. • Stronger laws, enforcement, and tech needed for equitable access.
Singh et al. (Fri,) studied this question.