This activity under the Protocol has gained a special relevance due to the recent recognition by the UN General Assembly and by Human Right Council of the human right to drinking water and sanitation. The work, led by France and mostly supported by UNECE, aims at enhancing access to water and sanitation for poor, vulnerable and socially excluded people. In order to facilitate the achievement of this objective it was decided to prepare a document on good practices to enhance solidarity that would allow an information exchange on relevant experience in UNECE countries related to (a) targeted measures to overcome water affordability issues; and (b) solidarity measures to improve access to water and sanitation in rural areas.

The document on “Good practices to promote equitable access to water and sanitation” which is currently being prepared by a drafting group of experts will be discussed during the Workshop on Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation - Challenges, good practices and lessons learned (4-5 July 2011, Geneva) and then finalized in time for dissemination at the Sixth World Water Forum to be held in Marseille, France, in March 2012, and subsequently for consideration by the Parties to the Protocol at their third session.