Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Water: Evaluating Water as a Human Right and the Duties and Obligations it Creates

Abstract

In, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Water: Evaluating Water as a Human Right and the Duties and Obligations it Creates," author Amy Hardberger discusses the reasoning behind establishing access to clean water as a human right. She argues that access to clean water is already considered parallel to other human rights as defined by international law.

In the second part of the article, Hardberger reviews human rights, including how they apply to and effect international law. Next, she examines the historical views on water as a human right. Hardberger focuses on how the lack of clean water adversely affects people and how human rights law is an appropriate way to establish the right to clean water. She further explores the role of governments in providing and protecting access to clean water. Finally, Hardberger stresses the importance of an international document which would allow access to water to reach the level of customary international law.

JEL Classification: K19