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 water pollution from point and non-point sources.
It also includes provisions for monitoring, research and development, consultations, warning and alarm systems, mutual assistance, institutional arrangements, and the exchange and protection of information, as well as public access to information.
Protocol on Water and Health
London, 17 June 1999
Under the Convention, the Protocol on Water and Health was adopted in London on 17 June 1999, and came into operation on 4 August 2005. 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.
Protocol on Civil Liability
Kiev, 21 May 2003
The Protocol on Civil Liability was adopted in Kiev, Ukraine, on 21 May 2003. The unique negotiation process, involving all relevant actors - Governments, the private sector, including industry and insurance, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
Recent developments
- The new brochure on the Water Convention is now available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, with some additional information on the Assessment (English, French, Russian, Spanish) and the activities regarding water and climate change adaptation under the Water Convention (English, French, Spanish, Russian).
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The new brochure on the Protocol on Water and Health is now available in English, French, Russian and Spanish, with additional information on target-setting (English, French, Russian, Spanish).
- The
first Assessment of Transboundary
Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters in the UNECE region was
launched on 10 October 2008 within the Sixth Ministerial
Conference "Environment for Europe".
- Report on the fourth meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention, including the adopted Model Provisions on Transboundary Flood Management.
- A newly published booklet on "Nature for water: innovative financing for the environment". It's a follow-up to the booklet "Nature for water: protecting water-related ecosystems for sustainable development".
- UNECE, in collaboration with UNESCAP and OSCE, is assisting the Governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in establishing the joint commission on the Chu and Talas rivers, as stipulated in their recent Agreement. This project will not only enhance cooperation between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on the Chu and Talas rivers, but will also be an example for Central Asia. The project will contribute to a better understanding of the principles of the Water Convention in Central Asia and the creation of an enabling environment to facilitate the accession of Central Asian countries to the Convention.