Assessment of Water Resources Development and Exploitation within the Framework of the Human Right to Water

Abstract

Recent years have seen an alarming global water problem brought on by population increase, climate change, and the corresponding rise in water demands. The global water situation has become difficult as a result. Water supplies in many countries are insufficient to meet even the most basic human needs. Although the State has historically dominated discussions of international water policy, new human rights instruments have changed the dynamic. One of the most important advancements in international environmental and human rights legislation is the recognition of the right to water as human rights. Despite the fact that water is necessary for life, health, and dignity, millions of people around the world still struggle with its scarcity, contamination, and unequal access.  The theoretical underpinnings, legal acknowledgement, and practical difficulties of achieving the right to water are all examined in this essay. Building on agreements like the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/292 (2010), it examines how states have a duty to guarantee that water is available, affordable, accessible, and of high quality for everyone. Conflicts over privatization, transboundary water governance, and climate-induced shortages are among the issues raised by the abstract, which also emphasizes the difficulties between water as an ecological resource, economic commodity, and public good.  Through an analysis of case law, constitutional provisions, and policy frameworks from various jurisdictions, this paper makes the point that integrating legal guarantees with equitable practices, participatory governance, and sustainable resource management is necessary for the effective implementation of the right to water.  Thus, the right to water is not just a legal right but also a fundamental component of environmental justice, sustainable development, and international human rights defense.