Summary

The Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Léo Heller, submits the present report on the principle of accountability in the context of the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 33/10. He analyses in the report the concept of accountability on the basis of three dimensions: roles, responsibility and standard; providing explanations and justification; and compliance through enforcement. He also provides guidance and examples of how rights holders can hold States and other relevant actors to account for ensuring the enjoyment of the human rights to water and sanitation and for their actions, inaction and decisions that affect the realization of those rights.