“The Commission is proud to have promoted a plebiscite in Uruguay that ensured the access to water as a fundamental right in the country, a milestone for the social movements around the world struggling for what was recently achieved at the UN”, they stated in a communiqué issued on Tuesday.

The Uruguayan government supported the resolution at the voting on July 28th in New York, US. The Uruguayan Commission highlighted the decision of the Uruguayan government to keep the promises made last year by Carlos Colacce, then Minister of Housing, Land-Use Planning and Environment, to support this initiative.

Uruguay was the first country in the world to declare water as a fundamental human right in its National Constitution (article 47), after a plebiscite carried out in October, 2004, by which over 64 per cent of voters supported the constitutional reform.

The reform stated that water and sanitation services should be provided exclusively and directly by state institutions, and that the use of water for people should be prioritized over the interests of corporations. The reform also included the participation of the population in the management and control of water sources.

On September 15th, 2009, the House of Representatives from Uruguay passed a law to regulate article 47 of the Constitution.

The National Commission in Defense of Water and Life reaffirmed its commitment to continue advocating for the fulfillment of the constitutional reform passed in 2004. “As 6 years ago, the People has the responsibility to ensure the implementation of the human right to water and sanitation”, they conclude.

Photo: www.redes.org.uy