RIGHT TO SAFE WATER, ARGUMENTS FOR ITS LEGAL ENTITLEMENT IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

In Pakistan, where over 21 million people, or around 10% of the population, faces challenge of access to safe drinking water, this article discusses the serious problem of insufficient sanitation facilities and water purification systems. Even though 92% of the total population has access to potable water, only 36% of the total water is safe to drink. In addition, almost 75% of the population does not have access to proper sanitation, which increases the likelihood of water-related illnesses. A great deal of avoidable misery has ensued because of our inability to satisfy fundamental human needs. This study contends that the right to obtain clean water for human consumption is upheld implicitly by Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 and explicitly by international human rights legislation, and the interpretations of Pakistani courts. By interpreting the access to safe water as a legal entitlement, it urges the government to make sure all its residents have access to clean water.

Keywords

• right to safe water
• human rights
• constitutional right
• right to life
• human dignity
• Pakistan

GÜVENLİ SU HAKKI: PAKİSTAN BAĞLAMINDA HAK SAHİPLİĞİNE DAİR TARTIŞMALAR

Abstract

Bu makale, nüfusun yaklaşık %10’ununa tekabül eden 21 milyondan fazla insanın temiz içme suyuna erişim sorunu yaşadığı Pakistan’da, ciddi bir sorun olarak görülebilen yetersiz sanitasyon (hijyen) tesisleri ve su arıtma sistemlerini ele almaktadır. Toplam nüfusun %92’sinin içme suyuna erişimi olmasına karşın toplam suyun sadece %36’sı içmek için güvenlidir. Buna ek olarak, nüfusun neredeyse %75’inin uygun sanitasyona erişimi yoktur, bu durum da su ile bulaşan hastalıkların görülme olasılığını artırmaktadır. Temel insani ihtiyaçları karşılama noktasındaki yetersizliğimiz nedeniyle aslında büyük ölçüde kaçınılabilir olan bir sefalet ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çalışma, bireysel tüketim için temiz su elde etme hakkının 1973 Pakistan İslam Cumhuriyeti Anayasası tarafından örtülü olarak, uluslararası insan hakları hukuku kuralları ve Pakistan mahkemelerinin yorumları tarafından ise açıkça desteklendiğini iddia etmektedir. Bu çalışma kapsamında güvenli suya erişimi hakkı hukuken ileri sürülebilir bir hak olarak yorumlanmak suretiyle hükümet tüm sakinlerin temiz suya erişimini sağlamaya çağrılmaktadır.

Keywords

• Güvenli (temiz) su hakkı
• insan hakları
• anayasal hak
• yaşam hakkı
• insan onuru
• Pakistan

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