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Water Is A Right Not Priviledge
About this event: 4th World Youth Congress - Quebec City 2008
Related to country: Liberia

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Dear All,

Let us go straight to the point. Reduce by half the proportion of people with out access to safe drinking water. That is Goal 7 Target 10 of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Lack of access to clean water is a major problem that is causing diseases , sicknesses, and Death in post conflict Countries. Developing Countries are losing more than 50,000 a day due to Water related diseases.

The Right to Water is implicit in the right to Food and Health. This Right Should not be taken away by any government or International Financial Institutions . In Protecting this right governments and the international community must ensure that Water facilities /services be accessible to everyone regardless of their status or location. State must never interfere directly or indirectly with the enjoyment of the Right to Water.

In Africa were weaker governments especially those that heavily indebted surrender the Right To Water through Privatization initiative. Water Privatization are conditions used by World Bank and IMF in order for poor countries to get Debt Relief or Loan.

In Liberia only 4.1% of the rural household has access to safe drinking water. In rural Liberia women and girls are responsible to get water . Women and Girls continue to walked hours searching for clean water. Hundreds of these women and girls are attacked and rap while in search of Water. Majority of them refused to report these rap cases while other live in silent pain among their rapist. Let us look at the Home of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, which is Bomi County .

A private Company is producing Safe Drinking Water in Bomi County. Safe Water that is produced by this private company in Bomi County are not for the citizen of Bomi . Majority of the Citizen and ordinary people in Bomi are locked up in Chronic Poverty making it clear that they can not afford the cost of the Water that is Produced in their County.

Clean Water that is produced by private companies in Liberia are for the handful of Elite. The proliferation of private water company in Liberia have prevented millions of Liberian from enjoying the Right to Water. With nearly 80% of the Liberia population living in poverty water born diseases remain Pervasive in poverty stricken Communities.

Excluded and Marginalized Groups in Liberia can not afford the high cost of clean water that is been push down the on helpless Liberian causing them to turned to unsanitary sources to fulfill their needs leading to water born diseases.


Our Government claimed to represent the interest of the People . According to LWSC each o f the 15 counties with the exception of Montserrado will need just a little of 2 Millions to revamp Water Facilities/Services in these Counties. I was shocked to note that LWSC received less than one Million in the proposed Draft Budget. This is a SLAP in the FACE of the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs). A government that came from the belly of the United Nations should give priorities to Key MDGs Sectors in the Draft Budget.

Access to clean Water will achieve goal 123456 and 7 of the MDGs.

We must reject Privatization when it is proposed and ensure that Water remain accessible and safe for ALL MEMBER OF SOCIETY.


Zolu Gobah
+2316539342

July 28, 2008 | 10:58 PM Comments  3 comments

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Comments

Seanamo Sean Amos
July 29, 2008 | 4:15 AM

Accessibility to clean water should be a priority to all governments, though here in Africa, its still a challenge. There's a serious degradation of natural water catchment areas and this has adversely affected the water distribution to the growing populations. All this issues need to be challenged.
Werebane James
July 29, 2008 | 8:22 PM

I Agree with the above!
Dora17 Miss Okyne
September 25, 2008 | 7:27 AM
I take side...!
Brother, i take side with you.

The challenge is right with us all to take the LEAD and effect the change we want to see for ourselves and the next generations.

What do you think can be done to solve issues/problems outlined in here...??

Together, we can make IT happen...!

Welcomne,
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