UN Names Barlow Senior Adviser on Water
Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, president of the 63rd session of the United Nations, has appointed Maude Barlow, board chair of Food & Water Watch, national chair of the Council of Canadians, and founder of the Blue Planet Project, as the first senior adviser on water issues.
Barlow said: "I am excited for the year ahead and am pleased to note that President d'Escoto has already adopted the call for water to be recognized as a human right."
In his letter to Barlow confirming her appointment, d'Escoto stated, "One of the priority issues for my presidency is the need to achieve the goals of the United Nations Decade "Water for Life" (2005-2015)… Given your outstanding experience, your creativity, and your leadership in water issues, I would like to appoint you as my senior adviser for this 63rd session of the General Assembly."
"This is a wonderful opportunity to advance a more democratic and transparent method of policy making around water at the global level than now exists," said Barlow.
"I firmly believe that our Assembly, as the most representative and democratic global political body, is the right forum to debate policy, affirm principles, and provide answers for the global water crisis that you have worked so hard to put on our agenda," continues d'Escoto in his letter. "I am looking to leaders like you, who combine humanitarian vision with a practical approach to problem solving, to help me."
"There has been growing momentum in the international community for water justice," added Barlow. "I also plan to take this opportunity to get the United States and Canadian governments to change their shameful positions and to finally join the international community in recognizing water as a human right."