EU Explanation of Vote – UN General Assembly: Resolution on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. 

The rights to safe drinking water and sanitation are critical priorities for the EU and its Member States. The biannual Resolution on the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation has traditionally been adopted by consensus by the Third Committee and the negotiations this year have again been conducted in the spirit of reaching consensus. 

We thank the co-facilitators, Germany and Spain, for their work and efforts to bringing us towards a consensual agreement on the text this year again.

We regret that a vote has been called on this normally consensual resolution. As stated before, we believe this undermines our collective effort of striving for consensus which have been a tradition in this committee.

The Member States of the European Union will therefore vote YES on resolution L.47 and we strongly encourage others to do the same.

Thank you.