Trade Unions and Civil Society Welcome the Introduction of the Human Right to Water into the Constitution of Slovenia

Last November, the National Assembly of Slovenia passed an amendment to its Constitution to include a new article that recognizes the Human Right to Water. The amendment affirms water should be treated as a public good managed by the state, not as a commodity, and that drinking water must be supplied by the public sector on a not-for-profit basis.

It is a great success for Slovenian activists  and people. Water is a controversial topic in Slovenia, as foreign companies from the food and beverage industry are buying rights to a large amount of local water resources. The Slovenian government has raised concerns about the impacts of free trade agreements like CETA in its capacity to control and regulate these resources.

The amendment is the result of a citizens’ initiative that collected 51.000 signatures to propose a constitutional amendment.

Read the full Press Release on EPSU's website.