On Wednesday, July 1st, the National Alliance against the Privatization of Water of El Salvador urged the local Parliament to resume discussion of the Water Law.
The organizations that make up the National Alliance against the Privatization of Water of El Salvador, presented on July 1st a letter to a local parliamentary commission with the purpose of requesting that the Legislative Assembly resume "urgently" the discussion of the General Law of Water.
The declaration recalls that "water is a source of life and a public good, whose access constitutes a fundamental human right", necessary in the current conditions to face the Covid-19 health crisis in the Central American country.
The signatories demand from the Salvadoran State "to guarantee access to this vital resource in an equitable, efficient, and sustainable manner," especially at the time the country is living.
Source: National Alliance against the Privatization of Water
The letter expresses "concern" that the Legislative Commission for the Environment and Climate Change has not met in more than 100 days of crisis to resume the discussion of the General Water Law, postponed since last January.
The social movement demands not only the prompt discussion of the issue in the commission but also its approval in parliamentary headquarters. The approval of the Water Law must include the recognition of the human right to water, the public management of this natural asset, the vision of the basin, citizen participation, and access universal to drinking water and sanitation.
The proposal was brought to the Legislative Assembly by Rodolfo Calles, on behalf of the Alliance, at a time when El Salvador had more than 7,200 infections and more than 200 deaths from Covid-19. President Bukele has been involved in strong clashes with Parliament over the management of the pandemic.
Translation from: https://www.telesurtv.net/news/exigen-ley-aguas-el-salvador-20200703-0019.html
Translation: Giada Ferrucci