The recognition of the human right to water has expanded significantly within international law, particularly following the adoption of General Comment No. 15 by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/292. Despite these developments, significant challenges remain in translating international legal norms into effective public policies capable of ensuring universal and equitable access to water. This study examines the relationship between the human right to water and public policy reform by analysing how international legal norms influence domestic water governance and policy implementation. Employing a qualitative doctrinal legal research approach, the study analyses international legal instruments, policy documents, and relevant scholarly literature relating to water rights, governance, and Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). The findings reveal that international norms provide an important framework for water governance through principles of availability, accessibility, affordability, accountability, participation, and sustainability. However, institutional fragmentation, regulatory weaknesses, financial constraints, and governance deficiencies continue to impede effective implementation in many jurisdictions. The study further demonstrates that successful realisation of the human right to water depends not only on legal recognition but also on the capacity of governments to integrate human rights principles into public policy, institutional arrangements, and service delivery mechanisms. Based on the findings, the study proposes a Human Rights-Based Water Governance Framework to strengthen policy implementation and improve access to water. The study contributes to the existing literature by bridging the gap between international human rights law and public policy reform while providing practical insights for policymakers seeking to advance sustainable and equitable water governance.
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