A/66/255 the private sector. 2 However, a narrow focus on economic growth, without simultaneous attention on whether outcomes are equitable and on building a strong regulatory framework, raises important human rights concerns. Economic growth can play a central role in poverty reduction, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and, ultimately, the realization of human rights, but only if the most vulnerable sectors of society are able to participate. 6. The availability of resources for water and sanitation is also closely related to how money is lent and borrowed globally. States required to devote large portions of gross domestic product to service external debt may be restricted in their ability to determine their national budget and resource allocation for essential public services, including water and sanitation. Furthermore, the continued use of conditionalities in these financing arrangements can also distort State priorities and have a deleterious effect on human rights, as further discussed below. 3 7. Economic policy must be guided by human rights and serve as a tool for their realization. States and international policymakers have a responsibility to consider their macroeconomic policy choices in the light of their human rights obligations. Economic policy should be scrutinized for compliance with human rights standards and such principles as progressive realization, non-retrogression, non-discrimination, transparency, participation and accountability. It is not within the scope of the present report to comment in detail on economic policy, but it is crucial to understand from the outset that financing access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all takes place within, and is impacted by, this larger context. 8. Bearing the larger context in mind, the present report demonstrates how a deeper commitment on the part of States and international donors to incorporate human rights principles into sector financing can aid States in mobilizing, spending and tracking resources. To prepare the report, the Special Rapporteur met with experts in human rights law, water, sanitation, macroeconomics and development in Lisbon in May 2011, 4 and continued to consult bilaterally with a number of experts. The perspectives and expertise they offered have been extremely helpful and the Special Rapporteur is thankful to all those who shared their views. II. Inadequate funding for water and sanitation 9. The most recent estimates reveal that nearly one billion people lack access to an improved source of drinking water, and 2.6 billion still do not have access to improved sanitation. 5 The Millennium Development Goal target on sanitation is woefully off track and the number of people with no access is on the rise. 6 Even if the 2015 target were met, over 1.7 billion people would still lack access to improved __________________ 2 3 4 5 6 4 Ibid. See also the report of the independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights (A/65/260). The meeting, on macroeconomic policy and the rights to water and sanitation, was organized in conjunction with the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, Rutgers University. World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, Progress on Sanitation and DrinkingWater: 2010 Update, pp. 6 and 7. Available from www.wssinfo.org/documents-links/documents/. Ibid., p. 8. 11-44364