The right to water
Water is a basic human right, not a privilege. In this category, we explore topics related to the availability, management and protection of water as a common good. Through articles, analyzes and reviews, we address the issues of privatization of water resources, the impact of climate change, local water conservation initiatives, as well as the legislative frameworks that shape our right to access clean and safe water.
To experience the atmosphere of the Pliva springs is to be reminded of the world and the values that nature defenders are fighting to protect! The Pliva is one of the largest sources of drinking water in Europe. Unfortunately, this environment is also under threat of destruction. While old stone houses and a few cottages do not significantly harm the landscape and ecosystem, their very existence is now overshadowed by the threat of two small hydropower plants. SHPP “Jovići” is maliciously planned at a fragile rock gorge, cherished by both locals and visitors. The other, SHPP “Kužo 1,” threatens one of the larger springs, planned just a few dozen meters away from it.
We took part in the citizens’ assembly of the Municipality of Sopot, one of the thirstiest municipalities in Serbia. Under the slogan “Water, our right, not our treasure,” citizens demanded concrete measures to address the long-standing problems of water distribution and supply during the summer months.
In a single day, 620 wildfires were recorded across Serbia. Fires in the country pose a serious long-term threat to both people and nature. They are caused by prolonged drought, poor forest management, and careless fire use. The most vulnerable are remote and neglected villages, which suffer additional consequences from these disasters due to decades of neglect.
The Right to Water initiative was a guest in the latest episode of the podcast Tampon Zona!
Veseli spust (Joyful rafting) ove godine je postao deo borbe za očuvanje reka. Na mostovima u Bogutovcu i Mataruškoj Banji razvijeni su transparenti sa porukama: „Spasimo Studenicu – STOP MHE” i „Kraljevo će sačuvati svoje reke“, uz imena pritoka Ibra, njih devet zarobljenih u cevima.
The permit for the “Velika Ploča” small hydropower plant, issued on the basis of falsified documents, has been nullified.
At the beginning of 2025, the initiatives “Protect the Rivers of Prijepolje” and “Right to Water” uncovered that the water permits and location conditions used as the basis for issuing the energy permit had been falsified. They reported this to the Ministry of Mining and Energy and to the relevant inspectorates. The evidence was so strong that the Ministry had no choice but to annul the energy permit granted to the company PowerIT for the construction of the “Velika Ploča” small hydropower plant on the Ratajska River.
