South Africa: Access to energy 'a human right'

Energy access should be recognised as a fundamental human right, a parliamentary forum has recommended at a three-day international forum on energy legislation and sustainable development. The right to water, housing and food supplies are already recognised by the UN as a human right. "As these rights cannot be satisfied without access to modern energy services, we call for such access to be recognised as a human right and for the contents of such a right to be elaborated by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights," delegates resolved.