Business, Human Rights & The Right to Water: Challenges Dilemmas & Opportunities

This paper seeks to summarise the points of view of a group of individuals representing business, international organisations, and civil society who have contributed to issues pertaining to the right to water. The issues include:

• The status of the right to water in the international legal context.



• The relevance of addressing water from a business and human rights perspective, including the business case.



• Key questions relating to challenges, opportunities and dilemmas for various actors.



• Potential actions to advance the debate.

The following sections of this paper explore the current debate and the areas where greater understanding would be beneficial, with particular focus on the role of business, while acknowledging that the notion of "the right to water" and the international law in this regard, are still evolving and developing.