A/HRC/6/3 page 4 Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council decision 2/104 of 27 November 2006 on human rights and access to water. In its decision, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) “… taking into account the views of States and other stakeholders, to conduct, within existing resources, a detailed study on the scope and content of the relevant human rights obligations related to equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation under international human rights instruments, which includes relevant conclusions and recommendations thereon, to be submitted prior to the sixth session of the Council”. 2. In conducting the study, OHCHR has sought written submissions from various stakeholders, including States, intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), experts, and representatives of the private sector.1 OHCHR also organized a one-day open consultation to discuss human rights and access to safe drinking water and sanitation and attended relevant expert and other meetings.2 The inputs received during the consultation process have informed the preparation of the study. 3. The report is divided into five chapters. Chapter I reviews the legal framework and existing obligations related to equitable access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Chapters II, III and IV review the scope and content of the term “access to safe drinking water and sanitation”, the nature of States’ obligations in relation to access to safe drinking water and sanitation and the question of monitoring. Chapter V discusses issues needing further elaboration and Chapter VI sets out some conclusions and recommendations for consideration by the Council. 1 The contributions received have been made available on the OHCHR website at: http://www.ohchr.org. 2 The report of the consultation is also available at: http://www.ohchr.org.