ALICANTE, Spain — Menstrual hygiene management and access to water and sanitation for underserved populations are two issues that have gained more awareness since the human right to water and sanitation was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly 10 years ago, according to Léo Heller, former U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Heller held the voluntary position — which sits in the special procedures body of the U.N. Human Rights Council — for the maximum two terms and was succeeded this month by Spanish professor and ecologist Pedro Arrojo-Agudo.
In his six years, the elected independent produced 12 thematic reports, advised on issues pertaining to the human right to water, and investigated any violations. He said some things have significantly improved during that time.