Workshop on Equitable Access to Water

	Agenda
	Presentations
	List of participants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The workshop on Equitable Access to Water was held on 5-6 July in Paris. The workshop was organized within the programme of work of the Protocol on Water and Health by the Ministry of Health of France, in copperation with the Water Academy and the International Office for Water.

The Protocol on Water and Health includes several provisions on non-discrimination and equity aspects. In particular, article 5 requires that "equitable access to water, adequate in terms both of quantity and of quality, should be provided for all members of the population, especially those who suffer a disadvantage or social exclusion".

To support implementation of these provisions, Parties to the Protocol agreed at their first meeting (Geneva, 17-19 January 2007) to include an activity in their programme of work for 2007-2009 aiming to support access to water and sanitation for poor, vulnerable and socially excluded people.

Under this activity, UNECE countries will exchange information on relevant experience in the region related to: (a) targeted measures to overcome water affordability issues; and (b) solidarity measures to improve access to water and sanitation in rural areas.

The workshop aimed to:

• Work towards a common understanding of the issue of equitable access and exchange views and experience on measures implemented in the UNECE region;
• Examine and finalize a questionnaire aiming at collecting systematic information on existing solidarity mechanisms from all UNECE countries.

On the basis of the information collected through the questionnaire, a document on good practices to enhance solidarity will be prepared for consideration by the Parties at their second meeting.

PRESENTATIONS

Opening of the session, Mr. Didier Eyssartier, Deputy General Director for Health of France	French (45KB) English (71KB)
Overview of major issues of promoting equitable access to water, Mr. Charles Saout, Health Ministry of France	French (33KB)
The Protocol on Water and Health and the human right to water, Ms. Francesca Bernardini, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe	English(13KB)
Financing water and waste water in France, Mr. Olivier Bommelaer, Agence de l'Eau Seine Normandie	English (13.896KB)
Ensuring access to water and sanitation for deprived households, Mr. Dominique Gallicher, French Housing Ministry	English (78KB) French (73KB)
Access to water and access to information , Mr. Pierre Chantrel, The International Office for Water	French (2.304KB)
Equitable access to water: situation in Hungary, Ms. Eszter Somogyi, Metropolitan Research Institute, Budapest	English (240KB)
Case study on the right to water and sanitation in Romania, Ms. Irina Lucavetchi	English (1.078KB)
Access to drinking water and sanitation in Bulgaria, Ms. Galia Badarska, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	English (14.219KB)
Sustainability, equity and democratic governance in water management, Ms. Valentina Mileusnic Vucic, Independent Advisor on Economic Issues in Water Sector, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Serbia	English (805KB)
Water supply and sanitation in rural Armenia-perspectives, Ms. Elena Manvelyan, NGO "Armenia women for health"	English (2.139KB)
Water and sanitation issues in Azerbaijan and measures directed to enhancement of equitable access to water, Mr. Rafig Verdiyev	English (572KB)
Proposals for increasing the affordability of water supply and sanitation services for the population by improving the operating efficiency of the company, Mr. Hayk Petrosyan, Armenian Water Supply and Sewerage Company	English pdf (146KB) English ppt (90KB)