Pristina, March 22, 2022 – Since 1992, March 22 has been observed as World Water Day, proclaimed as such by the United Nations General Assembly, which aims to increase the importance of water protection and ensuring safe drinking water worldwide. Another important goal of marking World Water Day is to draw attention on safeguarding the drinking water and to call upon every human being to improve its resources.

The importance of ensuring, administering and managing sustainable drinking water and safe sanitation is clearly specified in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which in Objective no.6 aims fresh water and sanitation for all: “Objectives include to achieve ensuring universal and equal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for all; pollution reduction; increase water use efficiency; and promoting management in participation of water and sanitation services.” As such this Objective is support and purpose at the full implementation of international standards, specifically set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, [Article 25], Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [Article 14 (2) (h)] and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), [Articles 11 and 12], which requires from the states to recognize and guarantee an adequate standard of living that ensures health and well-being of each individual including the right to clean water.

On the occasion of marking the World Water Day, the Ombudsperson addresses all authorities entrusted with constitutional and legal responsibilities with regard to environment protection, part of which is the right to clean water, to be continuously committed to ensure drinking water for all citizens of the country, as well as to work further in raising awareness of the importance of water quality in the country, as the main source of healthy living. State’s positive obligations, in respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights for a safe and healthy environment are indisputable and as such require serious commitment of state authorities in their effective implementation in achieving concrete and tangible results.

On the other hand, since the symbolism of this day is responsiveness to focus on the quality of water itself, the Ombudsperson calls upon on all citizens, without distinction, for safeguarding and preservation of the environment, in particular for the increased concern for clean water, since it as such, is the main source of healthy living.