Scott McKenzie, who has a Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa, recently wrote a blog post on the legal background of the human right to water. “The human right to water has been making steady progress.  The right has become a fixture of international law and state constitutions frequently include the right.  Within a framework of legal pluralism, this post examines the relationship between the human right to water’s core obligation and specific normative goals and on-the-ground governance in two case studies.  Strong water governance is critical for residents who are dependent on state or private enterprise for the delivery of basic and essential services, meaning international law has a significant impact on daily habits for billions of people.  South Africa and Ireland want to provide water for their citizens but their approaches show striking differences.  South Africa constitutionally protects the right to water but implementation falls short, while Ireland’s new framework is beginning to reflect international guidelines but provides no domestic legal guarantee.  These experiences show value in a duel-track approach for international law, with expanded recognition of the human right at the global and state levels along with further detailed frameworks that solidify how citizens should experience these rights.” Read more HERE.

To cite this piece: McKenzie, S. (2015). The Human Right to Water–Progress and Challenges for International Law and State Water Governance, Opinio Juris (Emerging Voices – 2015 symposium).