Right to Water, Right to Life

The International Conference “Right to Water, Right to Life”, organised by the San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital and the NIHMP, will be held on 16 March 2011, at 10 am at the Giovanni Spadolini hall of the Senate of the Italian Republic.

Access to water, which is essential for life, is often denied to groups of people mostly living in developing countries. The research of a method to guarantee this fundamental right and the reflection on the complex economical, social and political dynamics influencing the supply of this natural element are some of the objectives of the meeting, organised in a prestigious location and some days before the World Water Day.

About the event
A great part of the world population suffers from chronic water shortage. The World Commission on Water established at 40 litres per capita per day the basic level of water consumption, but in Central Africa (especially in the Sub-Saharan area), in Southern Asia and in South America, high rates of the population are forced to live with much lower water resources, only occasionally reaching 10-20 litres per day. As regards drinkable water, it is sometimes completely nonexistent or very far from the residence places (it is well known that many women in Africa and Asia are forced to walk for kilometres every day to reach the closest well).
Water, its usage and its equal distribution; the respect of water-related rights; the fight against diseases and wellbeing loss due to incorrect water management; water a symbol of life on this planet made of water. Those will be the themes of a scientific and political debate aimed at awakening the public opinion on the issue and at proposing solutions. The main objective is not only to work for the future, but for a better present, with less injustice and without inequalities.