The human right to water will be an issue discussed at this assemby, a gathering of delegates from 348 member churches representing 500 million members. Recently, the National Council of Churches in Brazil together with the Roman Catholic Conference of Bishops and the Federation of Swiss Churches affirmed the human right to water in a joint statement. The synod of Protestant churches in Germany has raised concerns about the commodification of resources essential to life, including water. At 13th session of the UN Commission of Sustainable Development (CSD-13), the Ecumenical Team held an event on the strength of community based initiatives as an alternative to water privatization.