Brazilian youth draft water‑rights declaration for UN conference

Youth from peripheral neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro gathered on 6 June at the Fundição Progresso, next to the historic Arcos da Lapa aqueduct, to discuss the right to water, basic sanitation and climate‑resilience. The event, organised by the civil‑society network Águas Resilientes, will produce a “Youth Declaration” that will be sent to Brazilian authorities and to the United Nations Water Conference in the United Arab Emirates on 2‑4 December.

Experts highlighted Brazil’s legal target of universal water and sanitation by 2033 – 99 % of the population with treated water and 90 % with sewage collection – which would require annual investments of about R$ 114 billion, up to R$ 900 billion in total. Activist Johari Silva stressed the link between water and dignity, saying “Without water we have no dignity, no food, no health.” The youth campaign aims to bring the voices of disadvantaged communities, indigenous peoples and river‑inevitable groups into global water governance.

The declaration seeks to influence policy and funding decisions both nationally and internationally, positioning Brazil’s grassroots perspectives at the centre of the UN water dialogue.