Sanitation and safe and clean drinking water is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared July 28, voicing deep concern that 2.6 billion people, including the homeless in Venice, do not have access to basic sanitation and almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water.

The 192-member Assembly also called on United Nations Member States and international organizations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer countries scale up their efforts to provide clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for everyone.

The Assembly resolution received 122 votes in favour and zero votes against, while 41 countries abstained from voting, including the United States.