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 UN-Water Activity Information System (UNW-AIS) was launched on 8 December 2010 in Paris. In online tool forsearching as well as disseminating information on water-related programmes, projects and activities carried out by UN-Water members, partners and associated programmes.
• The Report of the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties (Geneva, 10-12 November 2009), including the programme of work for 2010-2012 and the other decisions adopted by the Meeting of the Parties, is now available.
• The brochure on the Water Convention is 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).
• The brochure on the Protocol on Water and Health is 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 2007 within the Sixth Ministerial Conference "Environment for Europe".
• The booklet on "Nature for water: innovative financing for the environment" is a follow-up to the booklet "Nature for water: protecting water-related ecosystems for sustainable development".