In a compelling appeal to the United Nations General Assembly, UN Special Rapporteur Pedro Arrojo Agudo emphasized the urgent need to democratize water governance and safeguard human rights in water access globally. Highlighting the severity of the worldwide water crisis, Arrojo Agudo described it as a governance challenge that requires a shift towards participatory and sustainable management practices.

The Special Rapporteur underscored the principles laid out in the Water Justice Manifesto from the 2023 UN Water Conference, advocating for water and aquatic ecosystems to be recognized as shared resources governed by human rights, not as commodities for profit. This approach challenges the current models where private interests often overshadow public needs.

Arrojo Agudo’s report to the UNGA stressed that water governance should inherently respect and incorporate core human rights principles such as equality, non-discrimination, participation, accountability, sustainability, and legality. He called for the inclusion of customary and indigenous water management systems and the empowerment of local communities, especially women, in decision-making processes.

The critique extends to England's privatized water system, which the Rapporteur criticized in October 2024 for prioritizing shareholder profits over public service, highlighting a lack of transparency and commitment by the water regulator to its public service obligations.

The UN General Assembly Resolution on Water and Sanitation establishes the moral and legal framework that recognizes water as a basic human right linked to dignity, health, and environmental sustainability, rather than a mere economic commodity.

This call to action from the UN Special Rapporteur serves as a crucial reminder of the global stakes involved in managing one of humanity's most essential resources. As nations around the world grapple with increasing water scarcity and quality issues, the imperative for reform in water governance has never been more critical.