The development of a human right to water and sanitation under international law has created an imperative to implement human rights in water and sanitation policy. Through forty-three interviews with informants in international institutions, national governments, and non-governmental organizations, this research examines interpretations of this new human right in global governance, national policy, and local practice. Exploring obstacles to the implementation of rights-based water and sanitation policy, the authors analyze the limitations of translating international human rights into local water and sanitation practice, concluding that system operators, utilities, and management boards remain largely unaffected by the changing public policy landscape for human rights realization. To understand the relevance of human rights standards to water and sanitation practitioners, this article frames a research agenda to ensure that human rights aspirations lead to public policy reforms and public health outcomes.

COVID-19 demands international cooperation, yet populist nationalism is resurgent, threatening public health, human rights, and global governance. In responding to the pandemic, populist nationalism and global solidarity represent distinct paths, with enduring consequences for health and human rights. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 29, 2020: e1–e3. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305952 )

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