The UNECE Water Convention
Helsinki, 17 March 1992
The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) is intended to strengthen national measures for the protection and ecologically sound management of transboundary surface waters and groundwaters.
The Convention obliges Parties to prevent, control and reduce transboundary impact, use transboundary waters in a reasonable and equitable way and ensure their sustainable management. Parties bordering the same transboundary waters shall cooperate by entering into specific agreements and establishing joint bodies. The Convention includes provisions on monitoring, research and development, consultations, warning and alarm systems, mutual assistance, and exchange of information, as well as access to information by the public.
Protocol on Water and Health
London, 17 June 1999
The Protocol on Water and Health aims to protect human health and well being by better water management, including the protection of water ecosystems, and by preventing, controlling and reducing water-related diseases. It is the first international agreement of its kind adopted specifically to attain an adequate supply of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for everyone, and effectively protect water used as a source of drinking water. Parties to the Protocol commit to set targets in relation to the entire water cycle.
Protocol on Civil Liability
Kiev, 21 May 2003
The Protocol on Civil Liability provides for a comprehensive regime for civil liability and for adequate and prompt compensation for damage resulting from transboundary effects of industrial accidents on transboundary waters.
Projects
UNECE-GIZ Programme "Regional dialogue in Central Asia"
Dam Safety Project
Climate change pilot project- online platform for exchanging experience
See short interviews on the progress of EU Water Initiative National Policy Dialogues in Central Asia on YouTube produced by UNTV (2012, all in Russian): NPDs in Kyrgyz Republic, in Tajikistan and in Turkmenistan
See short movies on YouTube produced by UNTV (2011):
"Dam safety in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan" in English and Russian
"UNECE helps Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to cooperate on water management" in English and Russian
"UN Radio: 20-year anniversary of the Water Convention" (in Russian)
