ÁGUA E SANEAMENTO COMO DIREITOS, EDUCAÇÃO COMO CAMINHO: UMA INTERFACE COM OS OBJETIVOS DE DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL DA ONU

Abstract

Access to drinking water and sanitation constitutes human rights recognized under international law and embraced by the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda through Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which establishes specific targets for their realization. However, global progress remains insufficient to ensure the universalization of these services by 2030, revealing the persistence of socio-economic inequalities, environmental pressures, and political-institutional constraints. This article analyzes water as a vital resource, examines the process of international consolidation of the rights to water and sanitation, explores their normative content, and discusses the challenges associated with achieving the targets of SDG 6. It is argued that the realization of these rights depends not only on infrastructure and public policies, but also on educational processes capable of fostering critical social awareness and informed participation. Thus, it is maintained that environmental education constitutes an essential cross-cutting element for the full realization of the human rights to water and sanitation from the perspective of social justice and sustainability.