A/HRC/36/45/Add.2 other economic activities, and some of them also reported that it has a negative impact on their health. D. Other vulnerable groups 56. The Special Rapporteur sought information regarding the provision of water and sanitation facilities for homeless persons, including in large urban centres such as Mexico City. While he was not able to ascertain the situation regarding government provision of services, he urges all relevant authorities to put in place measures to ensure that homeless persons have free access to safe drinking water, as well as to adequate toilets and bathing facilities. It was brought to his attention that some families faced financial challenges due to issues such as the forced disappearance of family members or internal displacement due to violence, which affects their capacity to pay for their water and sanitation services. Provisions are necessary to ensure that social tariffs are applicable in such cases. V. Information, participation and accountability 57. In all communities that the Special Rapporteur visited he was told that information provision relating to water and sanitation services and meaningful consultation and participation in decision-making processes were generally inadequate and in many cases non-existent. Civil society representatives stated that the National Water Commission frequently refuses to provide information about water, allegedly referring to security concerns based on the National Water Law, and has no adequate participatory space for decision-making. 58. Non-governmental organizations indicated that there is a lack of transparency regarding the quality of water administered through public supply networks and in water sources, many of which are used directly without treatment. In zones hosting extractive industries (oil and shale gas extraction in Emiliano Zapata, Papantla, Veracruz State), contamination of water supply sources, owing to accidents or degraded supply networks, is apparently recurrent. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information from public authorities indicating to users that water quality may be compromised, when according to other evaluations that is evidently the case. That lack of information may constitute negligence on the part of the public authorities, or a deliberate attempt to avoid public awareness about the problem. Some community sources reported being unaware of shale gas extraction operations being conducted in their localities until they became aware of water contamination issues, noting that they had never been informed or consulted about such activities. 59. Mexico has not yet ratified the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which would allow communications (complaints) to be submitted to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals who claim to be victims of a violation of any of the economic, social and cultural rights set forth in the Covenant. Officials noted that they were monitoring progress on the ratification of the Optional Protocol and also considering it in the context of the Government’s other human rights priorities. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that it is crucial that national legislation provides a clear guarantee to individuals and groups who are alleged victims of violation of their rights to water and sanitation, so that they are able to file complaints before a judicial body, request legal remedies and have those remedies enforced. He urges the Government to show leadership in ratifying the Optional Protocol without further delay as an important step to fulfil its international human rights commitments. 60. A considerable amount of information and cases reported to the Special Rapporteur indicate significant obstacles relating to access to justice on the rights to water and sanitation. Many individuals, especially those in vulnerable situations, do not have a clear understanding of their rights, proper legal advice, or resources to access judicial mechanisms. Furthermore, they do not trust the authorities, as so many cases of violations of the human rights to water and sanitation do not reach tribunals, and substantive 15