1. Introduction and General Considerations
The Italian Committee for World Water Contract (CICMA) is an organization committed over 15 years, in international, European and national level, to promote the human right to water and its preservation as a “common good”. We appreciated this initiative taken by HLPE of Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to stimulate reflection about the links between the right to water and the right to food and setting the problem with reference to means of legal recognition and in terms of governance.
The defence of the right to water, land, food, is the priorities requested by rural communities and farmers as evidenced by the resolution adopted in Dakar. While in Rome take place in FAO the working of the CFS in Dakar, in the same days, in the African Social Forum social movements discuss land and water grabbing.
Over 30 organisation engaged in land, food an water have signed a political platform of request to the Institution asking the implementation of international legal instruments for the realization of these rights and the State’s engagement for the implementation of these right in the new agenda of sustainable development goals post-2015 (Annex 1)
CICMA consider the proposal “Draft-zero” a first significant contribution. For the first time “water and food” is highlighted the connection and was recognised that “can be no access to the food-right” if is not possible to guarantee the right to water and consequently to the access to land.
With reference to sections of the draft devoted to “ water” we would like to point out that it is necessary to supplement this section with the latest documents; in particular :
- references in terms of water-right, violations, recommendations are just contained in the reports of the Water-right Rappoteuer and the pronouncements of the Human Rights Council;
- the examples reported in the box, in terms of countries experiences are “dated”, and can be replaced with more recent experiences of application of the human right to water .
- at level of legislative frameworks for the recognition of ”human water right” we can refer to the experience of Ecuador that entered into the Constitution the water-right and the right of land and adopted them at national laws . Other examples at national level on the cases of Uruguay, Bolivia.
2. Contribution to the questions
Referring to questions proposed in page 2 of draft, we present the contributions of CICMA (Italian
Committee for the World Water Contract )
1. The scope of the topic of water and food security is very broad. Do you think That the draft V0 Has it adequately charted the diversity of the linkages between water and food security and nutrition? Is there evidence or important aspects the present draft That Has Failed to cover?
Consideration.
Relationship between “right to water and right to food.
It is good that in these draft of HLPE/CFS is recognized and introduced the connections between water and food right, in the context of human rights. But human rights are principles which are recognized only at the level of soft law and so are not guaranteed by the States.
It would be appropriate to recall the principle that “water is life” and that without water there is not any “life” (in all its forms). Without water you can not produce food. Without food you do not live. Any can live without water and food. These statements may strengthen the connection between the two rights and the urgent need to ensure accessibility.
Proposal:
1. CICMA suggest to explain this relationship and consequently to affirm in the draft that in the absence of a recognition of the water-right, in term of access to a minimum level (guaranteed by the States and International community) is unrealistic can ensure the right to food and nutrition. The recognition of the right to food is subject to the realization of water-right at national level, but it is necessary to remember that water-right is just recognized at specific and autonomous human right by the UN and up now there are not at similar level of recognition of “food-right”.
2. CICMA suggests not approaching the right to food in terms of right of poor groups or as priority for the most vulnerable the categories. This approach is not in harmony with the universal level of "human rights". The right to water and to food is universal and must be guaranteed to everyone, not just only to the most vulnerable people.
Our proposal is to confirm, in the draft, the universality of "human rights" linked to human dignity. The human rights must be recognized and guaranteed by all the States. It is time to assert the universal, inalienable, supra-national, inter-religious level of “human rights” and promote the States' commitment to recognize the “rights of nature/land” (ecosystems).
2. Has the report revealed adequately covered the diversity of approaches and methodological issues, in Particular Concerning metrics and data for water and food security? Which metrics do you find Particularly useful and Which not?
Consideration.
Referring to the parameters of "quantification" to ensure food and water in terms of “security”, the document suggests some parameters proposed by UN Agency for the minimum quantity of access to water. On the basis of the experience and assistance provided by FAO, it is possible to propose in the draft a minimum quantify of water necessary to produce food for basic nutrition in rural areas?
Proposal
CICMA proposes that the draft would formalize some proposals regards the minimum quantity of water for drinking and sanitation in terms of “human water right”. In order to realise and implement the UN resolution is necessary to quantify the minimum guaranteed as a "human right" and at the same time to identify an instrument of international law that ensures this “ water right”.
CICMA propose that the document adopt of certain parameters in terms of the right to water for human use and for food production.
The parameters to introduce as a benchmark are as follows:
1. Universal human water-right
- The right to water: minimum quantity of between 50 and 100 litres per day per person taken in charge by the State;
- The right to individual and collective welfare: between 100 and 250 litres day/peers access is guaranteed through a progressive tariff system in respect of good state of eco-systems;
- The right of water (sustainability of ecosystems): the domestic use in excess of 250 litres/day/p is prohibited.
2. Universal right to access to water for food production and uses
- Right to collective water use: up to 1700 m3 year for all purposes, cost taken in charge by to local community;
- Right to collective water use: uses ranging from 1.700 m3 /y/p at to 2500 m3/y/p , access is guaranteed through a progressive tariff system
- Uses of water for intensive production from 3500 m3 /y/p are prohibited if unendurable for the ecosystems.
3. Food security Involves trade of agricultural produce, and a virtual trade of water. Agricultural trade interacts with water and food security in various ways, and differently-for-food importing countries, food exporting countries, scarce water versus water rich countries. Do you think the draft V0 Has appropriately covered the matter?
Consideration.
Referring to the concept of “food security” it should be noted that not all the rural communities and farmers recognize the priority of these approaches, because food security do not defend their rights, but those who
have the ability to access the food market and to purchase it.
Access to food, the right to food and nutrition, can not be addressed only as " availability of a food", possibly to access at low-cost or an affordable price, and at if possible with a low water footprint.
The growth of national income of the countries through export of agricultural products with virtual trade water, does not the guaranties to transfer these incomes to the peasants and the opportunity to ensure the
food. The vision of “food security” in terms of production and access to food does not guarantee the right to
food and basic nutrition for all, in particular for the poor community.
The right to food, the access to food can not be assuring providing to the rural community the money to buy the food on the market or giving food-free .
To adopt the “virtual trade water” as a parameter to select or to orient local agricultural and food production improve the necessity to realize a national “market price of water”. This approach support the prevailing view, imposed by the water companies and many national policy, that “water is a commodity” and not a human right.
Proposal
CICMA suggest introducing in the document the concept of “food and water sovereignty” as a way to real ensure food security, in terms of the right to access to water and food.
The paradigms of “food sovereignty” and “water sovereignty” are used to strengthen the claim of the right to food, to water, to land of communities and to manage production and agriculture processes, may be realized in respect of human and environmental rights.
A vision of the right to food and water based on "sovereignty", namely in terms of self-determination of the
farmers, rural communities and peoples engaged to the rights to water, to the environment and the sustainable use of common resources (water, land , seeds, biodiversity) is preferable to a model of agricultural production oriented only to respect “water footprint” or national food security through the importation of technology, seeds and economic standards for agricultural production.
CICMA suggest preventing in the document the approach of “virtual water consumption”, witch strengthening the vision of “water is a commodity”, a resource with economic value in the market.
4. In this report, we considered the potential for an expansion of the right to water to encompass productive uses. What kind of practical and policy challenges would this bring?
The approach of "extension" of the right to water raised by the report is good but requires the positions defined on the legal basis on which the claim can be set.
Consideration
The approach of the report to consider the potential for an expansion of the right to water to encompass productive uses is good approach. We suggest, however, that this approach should be strengthened by clarifying the legal framework and the bases of reference.
Thanks to the mobilization of the water movements, ad international et national level, “water” is characterized today from a very advanced international legal framework in terms of recognition as “human right to water and sanitation”. The recognition of this right is secured by a specific UN resolution and supported by States and subsequently by the Human Rights Council.
This can proceed fire by introducing an international legal instruments concretely realising the resolutions and conventions already ratified by the States and sanctioning j the violations.
The legal framework currently existing for right to food and nutrition as human right is only at the level of reference in the Declaration of Human Rights (article 25) and of principles in terms of economic, cultural and social rights. There is no specific resolutions at human right.
Proposal
Cicma suggest that to explore the hypothesise that water and food rights must be associated, with the support of experts. A legal basis such as a Treaty or Protocol specific for human as a human right, adopted by the States and international community defining obligations of States, in terms of quantities, methods and sanction against of the violations of universal right to water.
Only through the adoption of this framework and the procedures for guarantying the human righty to water we think it will be possible to introduce principles in relation to the right for water and food of vulnerable groups.
With reference to other productive uses of water, it is proposed that this international legal framework confirms that the human right to water and sanitation should prevail of other productive uses, and that access to water for all other uses is subject to the balance of available water resources in that territory. Access to water for agricultural production and other purposes, must be based on a progressive tariff system for levels of consumption. The uses incompatible with the water balance of an area (resources of ecosystem or basins) should be prohibited.
5. Which systemic actions/solutions/approaches would be the most effective to enhance water governance, management and use for food security?
Consideration.
The document highlights the importance of water governance and identifies three level and models, but does not identify what is the most relevant to ensuring the right to food and food security. The reflection on the most appropriate models of “governance” brings us back to the concept of the management model in terms of “food security”, “water security”.
Proposal.
1.Cicma suggest the opportunity to activate a process of analysis, with debate and consultation in CFS respect to the food security production, as model to access to right-food and to promote individual welfare of the poor, the farmer, and the rural community .
We think that the approach of "food sovereignty" linked to the rights of communities and rural producers, is a and responsible model of agricultural production with a more respectful cycle, combining individual rights, and more respect of the environment right’s (use of soil, land, water etc)
Referring to the management-governance of common goods, particularly of water, the governance must be conceived in terms of the sovereignty at global level (humanity, peoples) with the involvement of local people and communities, and not in terms of local, national security for access to food, water, and environment.
The concepts of “food security” and “water security” are linked to a concept of “national sovereignty” (State / Country) of naturals resources (water, soil, food) and therefore are associated to national security and defence policies. In order to defend the access to national goods it’s allowed and tolerated the use of military security in the name of “sovereignty” ( see water wars, land wars ( grabbing), wars for food / bread),
To avoid these conflicts and ensure the “security of access to resources” for all, current trends’ tend to build models of “governance” that give the power to “definition of rules and legal bases” to stakeholders, reducing State’s sovereignty. We suggested to avoid in the “draft zero” supporting this model of governance only practiced and supported by European Commission and the principal corporations for “water management and governance” ( refer to policy’s of World Water Council, CEO, UNwater, Blue print of EC,TTIP negotiations USA-UE )
2. With respect to governance models, we believe it urgent to promote a reflection on designing new models. The most appropriate model to ensure news governance for the rights of the commons goods is to create instruments of international law and supranational structures of law with legislative and sanctioning powers, about of the national sovereignty of States. One hypothesis, at international level, proposed by CICMA and other Movements is to promote a World Water Authority and an International Court for Water and the commons goods.
At the regional level it is necessary to propose and to adopt models of governance based on local communities. These models may be recognized by legal frameworks, by protocols or by treaties that introduce management at a local areas, particularly transboundary basins of water. Basin management committees should be composed by representatives of local governments and citizens who live on the land and use the water resources, in particular citizens, farmers, stakeholders.
3. With reference to the principles, the appropriate model of governance must ensure the rights of the citizens living in the territories. Necessary to guarantee: the right to information on the quality of water and on sources used by public or private actors; the right to the participation for civil sociality ; the sanctions of the right to violations; the respect of the human-right water also in the wars the respect for the rights of the environment (soil, climate) .
Part 2 : Recommendations
Point. 12 - The right to water and food
Consideration
On the basis of the above considerations, for CICMA suggest
- Binding human right to water and the right to food, referring only to the common belonging as “human rights” recognized byn the Declaration of the United Nations, is a wach approach
- difficulties are even greater for the proposal to associate the right to food to recognition of the rights of nature and ecosystems. The failure of the Climate conferences’ that the States are not willing to give up their sovereignty over natural resources managed in terms of security
The recognition of the human right to water and sanitation, as established by resolution of the United
Nations, does not make an explicit reference he right to food ; it is difficult to sustain that it be automatically extended in terms of food right, especially as a right to access to food for the poor.
Maybe it ’s possible to introduce the right to water for food and extension of the human right to water and the right to a dignified life ( right for the life).
The recognition of the right to water may be promoted and pursued:
- At the level international, through a Treaty or International Protocol
- At the level of individual countries, through national legislative frameworks
The definition of the human right to water, the regulation of the substantive issues that need to be guaranteed by the States at the substantive and the procedural level, through an international Treaty adopted by the United Nations Assembly, could increase the possibility of obtaining a specific recognition for the right to water for food production, particularly for the most vulnerable groups.
At international level, CICMA is engaged to promote a proposal for a Second Optional Protocol to the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, on the right to water and sanitation
( PIDESC) ; in this draft there are definitions of water-right in terms of “drinking water and sanitation”, and “drinking water” is inclusive of water use by human for drinking, cooking, food preparation, personal hygiene and health or similar purposes.
At national level, it is necessary that States adopt national law ensuring that “everyone has access to safe water” and adopt roll propose by the Optional Protocol for water an sanitation .
We here remind that the most advanced model of water-right is implemented in Ecuador : after having inserted of the right to water and right of nature in its Constitution, the Government passed a national law to regulating the different uses and recognizing the right to water to communities for food self-production.
Proposals
The Italian World Water Contract proposes to the drafting group to introduce in the “draft-zero” the following proposal :
1. to request to the Human Rights Council to propose to the States to adopt an instrument of international law, a Treaty or Protocol, in order to ensure the human right, autonomous, specific to water and sanitation, the obligations of States on the substantive and procedural terms.
2. to request to the Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution formally declaring the connection between the human water-right, food-right” and right of water ecosystems. Such resolution should recognized the local community as the subject who has the right to manage plans for protection and use of water, land and food.
3. to request to FAO to identify the appropriate channels, at the level of United Nations, supporting the proposal for a Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PIDESC) and at the same time promoting, among the objectives of sustainable development of the UN Agenda post-2015, the formalisation of the right to water, food, land as State’s commitments.
4. the request to FAO to give immediate effect to "voluntary guidelines" on land and resources management, by identifying the legal means for effectively implementation the protection of rights by the States.
Italian Committee for the World Water ContractRosario Lembo