Joint statement by UN Special Procedures mandate-holders. UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
November 19, 2020.
There is a vital need to guarantee access to water and sanitation, particularly to those in the most vulnerable situations. For some, we are living in the “new normal”, with the COVID-19 pandemic changing certain ways of living. However, for many, we are living in a time of crisis with our livelihood at stake due to the serious consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many women who live in poverty, the lack of access to water and sanitation exposes them to risks of gender-based violence and endangering their sexual and reproductive health.
We are reminded that one way to prevent the spread of the virus is to practice proper personal hygiene by washing our hands using soap and water. “Washing hands frequently” is a simple daily routine of many but it is a privilege and luxury for those who do not have adequate water and sanitation services and those who face the decision of whether to drink water or use the water to wash their hands.
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