sustainable development 20 years on from the ... - José Eli da Veiga

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Figure I.9
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: PROPORTION OF NATIONAL, URBAN AND RURAL
POPULATION USING AN IMPROVED DRINKING WATER SOURCE AND AN
IMPROVED SANITATION FACILITY, 1990-<strong>20</strong>08
A. Proportion of national, urban and rural population
using an improved drinking water source
B. Proportion of national, urban and rural population
using an improved sanitation facility
1<strong>20</strong>
100
100
80
80
60
60
40
40
<strong>20</strong>
<strong>20</strong>
0
1990 1995 <strong>20</strong>00 <strong>20</strong>05 <strong>20</strong>08
0
1990 1995 <strong>20</strong>00 <strong>20</strong>05 <strong>20</strong>08
National Urban Rural
Source: United Nations, Millennium Development Goals indicators database [online] http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mdg/
Default.aspx, on the basis of information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Date of reference: December <strong>20</strong>11.
From a human rights perspective, General Comment No. 15 of the Committee on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights states in paragraph 27 that, “Any payment for water services has to be based
on the principle of equity, ensuring that these services, whether privately or publicly provided, are
affordable for all, including socially disadvantaged groups. Equity demands that poorer households
should not be disproportionately burdened with water expenses as compared to richer households”
(CSECR, <strong>20</strong>03).
(b)
Energy services
Generally speaking, the region has broad electric power coverage. Of the countries with the
lowest rates of coverage, Haiti is a special case with only 34% of its population connected to electrical
energy in <strong>20</strong>08, followed by Nicaragua (63%), Plurinational State of Bolivia (69%), and Honduras (73%)
and Peru (78%). The poor are the worst affected. Of the total population without access to electricity in
Latin America and the Caribbean, 73% are poor (see table I.1). The rest of the countries in the region
have achieved electric power coverage rates of over 80% and, in some cases, close to 100%, as is the case
for Chile, Cuba, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (OLADE, several
<strong>years</strong>). Between 35 million and 40 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in
isolated rural areas and informal settlements on the outskirts of major cities, still do not have access to the
basic energy services (electric power and modern fuels) considered necessary to overcome poverty and
improve human <strong>development</strong> indices. Table I.1 offers an estimate of the number of persons living without
electric power in selected countries (ECLAC/UNDP/Club de Madrid/GTZ, <strong>20</strong>09). Box I.1 presents the
experience of the Luz para todos programme (electricity for all) in Brazil.