DETROIT, October 20 (RIA Novosti) – Water shutoffs in Detroit threaten a wide range of human rights, UN special rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque told reporters at the press-conference in Detroit on Monday.
“The denial of access to sufficient quantity of water threatens a wide range of human rights, not only the right that we are in charge of monitoring, but also the right to life and the right not to be discriminated against. It exacerbates inequalities. It stigmatizes people, and renders the most vulnerable,” said Albuquerque.
The UN special rapporteur visited different parts of Detroit and talked to a wide range of people, whose water had been shut off or who are struggling to pay water bills. She noted that water rates had recently increased by almost 9 percent, despite a rising number of customers and high unemployment rates in the region.
“Our conclusion is that you have here in Detroit a man made perfect storm. Even that the water disconnections are not new to the city, recently the numbers reached unprecedented levels,” said Albuquerque.
The UN special rapporteur explained that Detroit officials have no data on how many people have been and are living without tap water, including the information on age, disability, chronic illness, race, income level of the affected population.
The UN special rapporteur on the human right to water and sanitation Catarina de Albuquerque and the Special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing Leilani Farha have visited Detroit over the weekend to observe the impact of water shutoffs on the residents and their human rights, as well as the need for adequate housing. Reportedly, the water shutoffs concern thousands of homes in Detroit where residents had not paid the bills.
