Background

The Special Rapporteur on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation will undertake an official visit to Canada from 2 to 13 October 2023, at the invitation of the Government. His visit aims at understanding and assessing Canada's efforts to implement the human rights to water and sanitation.

Objectives

 He invites all interested individuals and organizations, including civil civil society, academia, indigenous peoples, minorities, homeless and poor people, human rights activists and academics, to provide input to assist him in the preparation of the visit.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

• Issues of concern related to the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, regarding but not limited to availability, accessibility, quality and safety, affordability, and acceptability of water for drinking and personal/domestic usage and sanitation. (documents of interest could include summarites of judicial rulings, administrative decisions, independent technical opinions, academic and research papers, and audio-visual materials).
• Issues of interest connected to the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, including environmental issues, use of surface or groundwater sources, and water pollution, with particular attention to toxic contamination.
• Potential areas to visit, such as regions, towns or communities and the justification for these suggestions.
• Issues related to actions of Canadian mining companies in Canada and globally relating to the rights to water and sanitation.
• Relevant organizations and individuals to meet during the visit and the justification for these suggestions.

How inputs will be used

Contributions will be kept confidential.