UN expert on right to safe drinking water and sanitation launches first mission to Thailand
Geneva / Bangkok, 29 January 2013 – United Nations Special Rapporteur Catarina de Albuquerque will visit Thailand from 1
to 8 February 2013 to assess the country’s developments and remaining challenges toward the realization of the human
rights to water and sanitation.
“I will focus on the specific situation of people living in rural areas and informal settlements, as well as of those
belonging to disadvantaged groups including minorities and migrant workers. I will also explore some water contamination
cases,” said Ms. de Albuquerque, announcing her first official visit to Thailand.
The Special Rapporteur, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Thai authorities, will meet with
representatives from the Government, as well as from international organizations, civil society and communities in
Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
At the end of her eight-day visit, Ms. de Albuquerque will share with the media the preliminary findings of her mission
at a press conference on 8 February at 11:00 am, at the premises of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Based on the information obtained during the mission, the Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report to a
forthcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will include her final findings and recommendations to the
Government of Thailand.
Catarina de Albuquerque is the first UN Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation. She was
appointed by the Human Rights Council in 2008. Ms. de Albuquerque is a Professor at the Law Faculties of the
Universities of Braga, Coimbra and of the American University’s Washington College of Law. She is a senior legal advisor
at the Prosecutor General’s Office. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/WaterAndSanitation/SRWater/Pages/SRWaterIndex.aspx
UN Human Rights, country page – Thailand: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/THIndex.aspx
ENDS