Flavia LouresDr. Alistair Rieu-ClarkeMarie-Laure Vercambre

Everything you need to know about the UN Watercourses Convention

Contents

01 Introduction02 Acalltoaction05 Keyfacts10 UNWatercoursesConvention16 Keypolicygoalsandagreements16 MillenniumDevelopmentGoals18 ClimateChange19 Biodiversity20 Desertification21 Wetlands23 AnnexI:Ratificationhistory24 AnnexIII:Votingrecords25 AnnexIIII:Theinternationalcommunity26 Bibliography Fr

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In 1997, more than one hundred nations joined together to adopt the United nations Convention on the Law of the non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (Un Watercourses Convention)—a flexible and overarching global legal framework that establishes basic standards and rules for cooperation between watercourse states on the use, management, and protection of international watercourses. the Convention counts today 19 contracting states—16 short of the number required for entry into force.

since the Convention’s adoption, water pollution and overuse have worsened in many places, and the world’s poorest people are already facing shrinking supplies. The scale of the freshwater challenge is enormous, especially with climate change making water availability more unpredictable and causing more frequent, widespread droughts and floods. securing the water we need to meet growing human needs, safeguard fragile ecosystems, and maintain economic prosperity is actually one of the most serious and urgent tasks confronting the world in the 21st Century.

In order to succeed, we will depend not only on water bodies located entirely within one state’s territory, but also on freshwater systems that mark or cross international boundaries. transboundary waters are physically shared between two or more countries and are some of the most important and vulnerable freshwater resources on the planet. the states concerned have a responsibility to protect them, and to work together to manage them in a sustainable and integrated manner. However, transboundary water cooperation raises major practical and political issues.

In the past, nations have addressed those issues by adopting and implementing treaties that govern interstate cooperation on specific international watercourses, lakes, and aquifers. As a result, there are many different watercourse agreements, but most of the world’s transboundary water resources still lack sufficient legal protection. In most basins, either no management agreements are in place, existing agreements are inadequate, or not all states within the basin are parties to existing agreements. Without such protection, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for watercourse states to cope cooperatively with existing and future threats from human pressure and environmental change.

therefore, the UN Watercourses Convention is more relevant than ever. Its widespread ratification and implementation are necessary to ensure that states properly utilise and protect those precious water supplies—now and in the future.

We join other stakeholders in pressing governments, multilateral organisations, and the international water community at large to take immediate and effective action to achieve this.

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A CALL to ACtIon: WHAt needs to be done noW

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In the UN ‘Decade for Action: Water for Life,’ we call on the international community to do whatever is necessary to bring into force and widely implement the UN Watercourses Convention.

In particular, we ask:

• All countries who have not yet done sotobecomecontractingstatestotheConvention;

• Current contracting statestocallontheirneighboursandpartnercountriestojointheConventionaswell;

• All statestoemploytheirbesteffortstoacceleratetheprocessforentryintoforceoftheConventionandtopromoteitsbroadratificationandeffectiveimplementation,includingby:

– Involvingjoint river basin organisationsintheprocessandseekingguidancefromtheirexperts;

– Authorisingthe regional economic integration organisationsofwhichtheymaybeparttoaccedetotheConventionandengageinitsimplementation;and

– AskingtheUnited Nations General AssemblytogiveamandatetoanappropriateUNagencyorprogrammetoleadtheeffortstoraiseawarenessandpromotetheentryintoforceandimplementationoftheConventionwithintheUnitedNationssystem;

• All regional economic integration organisations dulyauthorisedtodosobytheirmemberstatestoaccedetotheConvention;

• UN Water, the relevant UN agencies, programmes, and initiatives, the World Bank, and other development institutionstoprovidefinancialandtechnicalassistancetocountriesthroughtheratificationandimplementationprocesses;and

• The international water community at large, includingnon-governmentalorganisationsinthefieldsofwater,conservation,humanrights,andgender,toraiseawarenessofthevalueandimportanceoftheConvention,especiallyamongministersandparliamentarians,forgettingthe16additionalratificationsnecessaryforitsentryintoforce.

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KeY FACts: tHe stAtUs oF tHe WorLd’s InternAtIonAL WAterCoUrses And tHeIr governAnCe

• Humanconsumptionappropriates54% of the world’s accessible freshwater runoff.However,increasesinaccessiblewatersuppliesareunlikelytokeepupwithpopulationgrowth,andpercapitawateravailabilitywillshrinkinthecomingcentury.

• Worldwide,over1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and around 2.6 billion people have no access to adequate sanitation.Asaresult,morethanfivemillionpeopledieeachyearfromwater-relateddiseasesthataremostlypreventable.

• Water shortages alreadyaffecttwobillionpeopleinover40 countries.

• Ofallbiomes,freshwaterecosystemsarethemostthreatened,and1/5offreshwaterfishspeciesareinrapiddecline.

• Water securityisreachingthetopoftheinternationalagenda,asawarenessgrowsofthelinksbetweenthewatercrisisandenergyandfoodsecurity,andaswateroveruseandpollutionaffectmoreandmorepeopleeveryyear.

• Theworld’s276 international watercourses containkeyfreshwatersuppliesandsustainrichecosystemsin145 countries.

Theycoveralmosthalf the earth’s surface,arehometoaround40% of the world’s population,andgenerateabout60% of global freshwater flow.

• Stateshavemadesomeprogressinadoptingwatercourseagreementsatbasinandsub-basinlevels,butcooperative management frameworks existforonlyabout40% of the world’s international watercourses.

• Whereagreementsexist,80% involve only two countries,eventhoughother states may also be part of the watercourse in question.

Thestatesthatarepartiestothese“partial”agreements,astheyseektopromotetheintegratedmanagementofthewatercourse,havetorelyonthegoodwillofnon-partiestoengageinformallyinthecooperationprocess.

Inothercases,partiestopartialagreementsmakedecisionsamongthemselveswithoutdueregardfortheinterestsandneedsofotherco-watercoursestatesthatarenotpartiestothoseagreements.

• Manystatesarepartiestoseveralwatercourseagreements,eachwiththeirownuniquepoliciesandobligations,whichmakeseffective implementation moredifficult.

• Manyagreementshavesignificant gaps or failings.

Amongotherproblems,sometreatiesfailtoconsiderlong-termchangesinwateravailabilityandtheneedtorevisitwaterallocationsaccordingly.Periodicalrevisionsmayprovenecessaryforsustainingtheresource,protectingecosystems,andmeetinghumanneeds,whilemaintainingafairbalancebetweenallthestatesconcerned.

Suchtreatiesarelesslikelytoaidpartiesinrespondingtothe effects of climate change on water resources inacooperativeandsustainablemanner.

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Types of Problems Internationalwatercourses:a)Withnoagreementsatall;andb)Withagreements,mainlyorexclusively:(i)Coveringnavigationorfloodcontrol,(ii)Delimitingborders,or(iii)Focusingonspecificdevelopmentprojects.

Examples of where they occur Americas: Yukon,SanJuanandOrinocobasins

Asia:Salween,IIi,Red/SongHong,Ayeyarwady,TorasiandBenaninbasins

East Africa:LakeTurkana

Andnumeroussmallerbasins,butnotnecessarilylessimportant,inWest,NorthandEastAfrica,inEastandSouth-Asia,andinCentralandSouthAmerica.

Case studies of why they matter ColombiaandVenezuelasharetherelativelypristineOrinocobasinandhavemadeeffortstocooperateonwaterissuesthroughjointcommissions.However,plannedunilateralhydropowerdevelopmentandwaterdiversionsinmajortributariesrepresentagrowingthreat.Thetwocountrieshavenotyetreachedagreementonbasicstandardsandproceduresforthesustainabledevelopmentofthebasin,suchasthosecontainedintheUNWatercoursesConvention.

Smallerinternationalwatercoursesareoftenprecioustodependentcommunitiesorvulnerableecosystems.Evenso,suchresourcesmaynotgetsufficientpoliticalvisibilitytopushcountriestoadoptwatercourseagreementsuntilgreaterproblemsbegintoarise.Thisisthecase,forexample,withtheFlyandSepikbasinssharedbetweenPapuaNewGuineaandIndonesia,andthesmallwatershedsthatdraintheHeartofBorneo,inSouth-Asia.Forthosebasins,theUNWatercoursesConventioncouldserveasa‘catchall’forpromotinggoodmanagementwherespecialagreementsaremissing.

Types of Problems Internationalwatercourseswithagreementsthatdonotinvolveallthestateswithinthebasin.

Examples of where they occur Amur, Congo, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Ob, Mekong, and Nile basins.

Case studies of why they matter IntheGanges-Brahmaputrabasin,IndiahasreportedlyaccusedChinaofnotsharinginformationontheBrahmaputrariver’sstatusthatcouldhavepreventedfloodinginIndiaandBangladeshin2000.In2007,TheDailyStarannouncedthatNepalandIndiawere

exchangingblameforthemostcatastrophicfloodinginSouthAsiaindecades.Similarsituationswillhappenagainunlessallstateswithinthebasinbecomeengagedinaneffective,meaningful,open,andcontinuousdialogue.Throughitssubstantivenormsandproceduralmechanisms,theUNWatercoursesConventioncouldprogressivelybringallcountrieswithinthatbasinclosertogetherandhelpavoidsimilarsituationsinthefuture.

Types of Problems Gapsorfailingsinwatercourseagreementsthatmayposeaseriousobstacletocooperation.

Examples of where they occur TherecentlyadoptedtreatyontheVoltabasinincorporatesthegeneralprincipleofnotificationtowarnneighbouringcountrieswhenemergenciesoccur.Butitneitheraddressesthepreventionofharmfulconditions,suchasfloods,norcontainsdetailedrulesgoverningemergencies.

A1944Mexico/UStreatydeterminesafixedpartitionofthewaters,insteadofcreatingaprocessforwaterallocationandperiodicalreviews.

A1909US/Canadatreatyfailstocoverdomestictributariesofinternationalwatercourses.

TheagreementgoverningtheLakeChadbasinlackswaterallocationcriteriaanddoesnotrequireregularinformationexchange.

TheconventionontheGambiaRiverdoesnotcovergroundwater.

TheonlyagreementgoverningtheAmazonbasinlackseffectiverulesdealingwithdisputesettlement.

Case studies of why they matter IntheVoltabasin,forexample,accordingtoBBCNews,GhanaaccusedBurkinaFasoin2007ofaggravatingfloodsdownstreambyopeningthefloodgatesofadamlocatedintheupperstretchesoftheriver.TheVoltaBasinConventionisasignificantcommendablesteptakenbythestatesconcernedtoimprovetransboundarycooperationwithinthebasin.However,thatconventionhaslittletooffertopreventasimilarsituationfromhappeningagain,ortoclarifytherightsanddutiesofthewatercoursestatesinvolvedinlike-accidentsinthefuture.Initsturn,theUNWatercoursesConventiondealsinmoredetailwithharmfulconditionsandemergencies,andcouldbeappliedtosupplementtheVoltaBasinConventioninregardstothoseissue(seeArticles27-28oftheUNWatercoursesConvention).

A gLImpse At tHe probLems In tHe LegAL governAnCe oF InternAtIonAL WAterCoUrses

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• Theinadequacyofexistingwatercourseagreementsandthelackofagreementsfornumerousinternationalwatercoursesarealarminglegalweaknesses in today’s international legal structure governing transboundary waters.

• Suchweaknessesmakeitfartooeasyforsomecountriestomanagetheirriversunilaterally,arbitrarily,andwithoutsharingrelevantinformationtheirneighboursmayneed.

• Ifactionisnottakentoimprovethelegalgovernanceoftransboundarywaters,states are likely to fail to cooperate towards promoting the integrated management of international watercourses.

• Theresultwillbeconflictoverincreasinglyscarceandpollutedsupplies,deterioratingbiodiversity,andseriousthreatstoeconomicdevelopment,humanhealth,andlong-termsustainability,especiallyinpoorercountries—allsignificant barriers to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Thepictureappearsgrim,butwhatweareactuallyfacingisa key moment of opportunity.ThroughtheentryintoforceandimplementationoftheUNWatercoursesConvention,wecaninfluencethemanagementoftheworld’stransboundarywatersinapositiveway.TheConventionwillpromotetheequitable utilisationandenvironmental protectionofinternationalwatercourses,catalysing regional integration and sustainable developmentaroundtheworld.

Manywatercoursestatesarealreadyworkingtogethertofacethechallengesandsharethebenefitsfromtransboundarywatercooperation,including,forexample,intheDanube,Mekong,Nile,Rhine,andZambezibasins.Andwithgrowingworldwideawarenessofthespeedandconsequencesofclimatechange,thereisfargreaterwillingnessfromgovernmentstocooperatetowardsaddressingthoseissues.

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tHe LegAL governAnCe oF InternAtIonAL WAterCoUrses: IssUes, rIsKs And opportUnItIes

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What it seeks to achieve

TheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheUNWatercoursesConventionin1997byanoverwhelmingmajority.TheConventionsetsouttherightsandobligationsofcountriessharinginternationalwatercourses.

Asagloballegalumbrella,theConventionseeksto supplement, facilitate,and sustain transboundary water cooperation at all levels,by:

• Addressing the legal weaknessesinthecurrentinternationalwatergovernancestructure,intheabsenceofotherapplicablelegalinstruments;

• Providingcoherent policy guidancefortheadoptionandimplementationofsoundandcomprehensivewatercourseagreements—guidancethatwillfacilitate the work of bilateral and multilateral institutionsassistingwatercoursestatesinmattersoftransboundarywatercooperation,suchastheEUWaterInitiative,theUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,theWorldBank,anddevelopmentagencies;

• Fosteringandpreservingpolitical stabilityinsituationsthatmightotherwisebecomecontentious;

• Establishingafair level playing fieldamongwatercoursestates,conducivetothesharingofbenefitsandtosustainabledevelopment;and

• Incorporatingsocial and environmental considerations intothemanagementanddevelopmentofinternationalwatercourses.

Backin1997,theUNmemberstatescouldhavesimplyagreedonanon-bindingdeclarationofprinciplesandmechanismsguidingrelationsbetweenwatercoursestates.Instead,theUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheUNWatercoursesConvention,assuch,withtheexpectationthatentryintoforceandwidespreadimplementationwouldvalidateitspoliticalandlegalrelevanceasasourceofinternationalwaterlawandenableittodevelopintoasolid,widely-acceptedglobalcodeinthefield.

Our challenge now is to take action to ensure that the UN Watercourses Convention is widely ratified and enters into force—and quickly.

Un WAterCoUrses ConventIon, 21 mAY 1997

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TheUNWatercoursesConventiongovernstheutilisation,management,andprotectionofinternationalwatercourses.TheConventiondefinesawatercourseasasingleunitofsurfaceandundergroundwatersthatincludesthemainriver,itstributariesanddistributaries,andanyconnectedlakes,wetlands,andaquifers.

TheUNWatercoursesConventionrequiresstatestouseinternationalwatercoursesinanequitableandreasonablemannerconsistentwiththeirprotection.Thegoalistoutilisetheseresourcesinanoptimalandsustainableway,whilepayingspecialregardtovitalhumanneedsandtotheinterestsoftheotherwatercoursestates(Articles5-7,10).Inparticular,theConventionrequiresstatesto:

• Cooperateinadoptingagreementsthat implement and/or adjust the Convention to their specific circumstances and needs (Article3);

• Participate actively and equitablyinthedevelopmentandprotectionofinternationalwatercoursesandengageingood-faithandmutuallybeneficialcooperation,forexample,throughtheregularexchangeofrelevantinformation(Articles5,8,9,25);

• Takeallappropriatemeasures,whenutilisinganinternationalwatercourse,toavoid causing significant harmtootherco-watercoursestates;wheresignificantharmneverthelessoccurs,statesmustactdiligentlytoeliminate or mitigatesuchharm,inconsultationwiththeaffectedneighbouringcountry,withaviewtorestoringafairbalancebetweenthestatesconcernedinthedevelopmentofbeneficialwaterusesandtheprotectionofthewatercourse(Article7);

• Follow a procedure of consultation, negotiation, anddata exchange beforeimplementinganymeasuresthatcouldhaveasignificantadverseeffectuponotherwatercoursestates(Articles11-19);

• Jointlywithotherstatesconcerned,orindividually,protectandpreservetheecosystemsof

internationalwatercoursesandmanagetheminamannerthatsafeguards the marine environment, including estuaries (Articles20,22);

• Prevent, reduce and control pollution ininternationalwatercourses,withaviewtoavoidingsignificanttransboundaryharm(Article21);

• Takeallnecessarymeasurestoprevent the introduction into international watercourses of exotic species thatmaycausesignificantharmtootherstates(Article22);

• Takeallappropriatemeasurestopreventandmitigate harmful conditions relatedtoaninternationalwatercourse,aswellastoaddress emergencies,includingbynotifyingotherstatesthatcouldbeaffectedandtherelevantinternationalorganisationsasquicklyaspossible,andbypreventing,mitigating,andeliminatingtheirharmfuleffects(Article27-28);

• Consult over the establishment of joint management mechanisms,suchasbasinorganisations,transboundarymanagementplans,jointcontingencyplans,andagreedwaterqualitystandards(Articles21-24);and

• Seek the peaceful settlement of disputes,followingtheConvention’sproceduresintheabsenceofapplicableagreements(Article33).

The primary functions

TheUNWatercoursesConventionalreadyenablesandsustainstransboundarywatercooperationinnumerousways.However,entryintoforceandwidespreadimplementationarenecessaryfortheConventiontoperformallofsuchfunctionseffectivelyandfully,asdescribedandexplainedintheTableoverleaf.Thetablealsoshowsinwhatcircumstanceseachfunctionmayberelevant,clarifieswhichstakeholdersmaybeaffectedineachcase,listsexamplesofwhentheConventionhasinfluencedconcretesituations,andreferstokeydocumentsandstakeholdersrecognisingtheConvention’srelevancetoperformcertainfunctions.

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sCope And mAIn provIsIons

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The functions of the UN Watercourses Convention

Inspiresfutureregionalorwatercourseagreements.

Supportstheimplementationofregionalorwatercourseagreements.

Governsinternationalwatercoursesintheabsenceofapplicableagreements.

Newagreements,togovernbasinswithoutagreementsortosupplementexistingagreements.

Revisedagreementsreplacingexistingones,forstrengthening,readjusting,expanding,orupdatingthoseagreements.

Interpretationofagreements,e.g.,theConventioncanhelpclarifyambiguousprovisions.

Applicationofagreements,e.g.,theConventioncanguidedecision-makersinsolvingdisputes.

NoAgreements

Partialagreements,i.e.,agreementsnotinvolvingallwatercoursestates,ifbothstatesconcernedhavejoinedtheConvention,butonlyoneisapartytotheexistingagreement.

Issuesnotcoveredbyexistingagreements.

AlthoughanystatecanconsulttheConventionwhennegotiatingagreements,consensusarounditsbasicprincipleswillbegreateramongparties.WidespreadratificationwillthereforemaketheConventionmorerelevantasabasisforwatercoursenegotiations.

TheConventionperformsthisfunctionregardlessofwhetherthestatesinvolvedarepartiestoitornot.Thisimpactwillheightenprogressivelyinlinewiththenumberofstatesbecomingapartytoit,butcouldweakenovertimeandpossiblyceasecompletelyinthecaseofnon-entryintoforce.

Bindingonparties.

The2000RevisedSADCProtocolonSharedWatercoursesandtheSenegalRiverChartermakeexpressreferencetotheUNWatercoursesConventionasabasisfortheirdrafting.

In1997,theInternationalCourtofJustice,inadisputeconcerningtheDanube,invokedtheUNWatercoursesConventiontojustifyitsdecision.

Onlyuponentryintoforce.

Functions Circumstances Stakeholders affected Examples

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The functions of the UN Watercourses Convention

Supplementsenvironmentalconventions.

Advancesinternationalpolicygoals.

Offersabasisforthedevelopmentoftreatylawatthegloballevel.

ConventiononBiodiversity

RamsarConvention

ConventiononClimateChange

MillenniumDevelopmentGoals

IWRM-relatedinternationaldevelopmentcooperation.

IssuesnotcoveredbytheConvention.

Issueswhichdeservefurtherdevelopment(e.g.,transboundaryaquifers).

InternationalCommunity

InternationalCommunity

Allstatessharingwaterresourcescouldbenefitfromauniversallyagreedbasisforfurtherdevelopingthisfieldoflaw.

Onceinforce,theConventionwillbepoliticallybettersuitedtoserveasamothertreatyforfutureprotocolsadoptedwiththatintent.

Functions Circumstances Stakeholders affected Examples

CBDDecisionsVIII/27&IX/19urgestatestoratifytheUNWatercoursesConventionasameanstohelpprotectbiodiversityininternationalwatercourses.

UNSGAB’sHashimotoActionPlanurgesstatestobecomepartiestotheUNWatercoursesConventiontoimprovetransboundaryIWRMandsohelpadvancetheMDGs.

TheILCDraftArticlesonTransboundaryAquifersdrawheavilyfromtheConvention,applyingandadjustingittothespecialcaseofgroundwaters.

BecausetheConventionisstillnotinforce,itispossiblethatthedraftarticlesareadoptedasaseparate,independenttreaty,ratherthanaprotocoltotheconvention.Thisoutcomewouldruncountertothegoalofpromotingintegratedwaterresourcesmanagement.

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HoW tHe Un WAterCoUrses ConventIon reLAtes to KeY poLICY goALs And Agreements

Millennium Development Goals: TheHashimotoActionPlanoftheUNSecretaryGeneral’sAdvisoryBoardonWaterandSanitation(UNSGAB)calls on governments to ratify and implementtheUNWatercoursesConvention.UNSGABincludesleading international political, legal,andscientific water experts.Theiractionplanidentifiestheconcrete measuresneededtoachieve the Millennium Development Goalnumber7,Target10,onsustainableaccesstosafedrinkingwaterandbasicsanitation.

Theprotectionoftheecosystemsofinternationalwatercourses,themaintenanceofpeacefulandequitablerelationsbetweenwatercoursestates,andthecooperativemanagementanduseofsharedriverbasinsinsupportofsocioeconomicprogressareallpreconditionsforachievingTarget10.TheUNWatercoursesConventionwillcontribute to meeting those conditionsandthereforesupporttheMDGs.

Sustaining aquatic ecosystems:

• Healthy,well-managedaquaticecosystemssustaintheecologicalfunctionsandservicesthatarecriticalforlivelihoodsandwateruses,especiallyinthedevelopingworld,andthusforachievingtheMDGs.

• TheConventionaimstosecuretheenvironmentalintegrityofwatercourses,whileenablingstatestoco-utilisesuchresourcestobenefittheireconomiesandpopulations.Statesmustpursuemutuallybeneficialandsustainableoutcomesthroughthefairsharingofwaterresources,consistentwiththeiradequateprotection.

• TheConventionpromotesanintegratedmanagementapproachthroughtheequitableparticipationofallco-watercoursestatesintheprotectionanduseofinternationalwatercoursesandinthenegotiationandimplementationofspecificagreements.

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International peace and security:

• Sustainabledevelopment,neededtoadvancetheMDGs,cannotflourishamidstconflictandpoliticalinstability.Butpoliticaltensionsinevitablyeruptwhenwatercoursestatesfailtocooperatewithoneanother.

• Water—orthelackofit—hasoftenfuelledinterstatedisagreements.Aswegazeintothefuture,therehavealreadybeenwarningsofmorefrequentandwidespreadwaterconflicts,evenwars,andclimatechangewillonlymakethisworse.

• Freshwaterwillincreasinglybeasourceoftensionsanddisputeunlessinternationallegalinstrumentsareinplace,supportedbyappropriatelevelsofinvestment.Suchagreementsarecrucialtogovernandpromotethecooperativeandfairmanagementanduseofinternationalwatercourses,aswellastoestablishefficientandclearrulestopreventandsettledisagreementsbetweenwatercoursestates.

• TheUNWatercoursesConventionisdesignedtoprovideexactlythis,anditnowseemsclearthatwecannotrelyonlyonexistingwatercourseagreements.

Economic progress and human development:

• Closeandstablecooperationbetweenwatercoursestatesistheonlypossibleavenueforpromotingwin-winsolutionstowardstheoptimalandsustainableuseofariverbasin,insupportoftheMDGs.

• TheUNWatercoursesConventionexpresslyrecognisesthespecialneedsofdevelopingcountries.Whenestablishingtherightsanddutiesofparties,theConventiontakesintoaccountthevaryinglevelsoftechnicalandeconomiccapacityamongstates.

• TheConventionisflexibleenoughtoadjusttothespecificcircumstancesofeachwatercourse,withoutoverlookingwidersocialneedswhenbalancingtherightsandinterestsofparties.

• WhiletheConventiondoesnotexplicitlyrecognisearighttowater,itwillsupportthepracticalapplicationofsucharight,includingwithrespecttowateraccess,sanitation,andfoodsecurity,andbenefitunder-servedpopulations.

• TheConventionrequiresstatestoallocatewateramongtheminafairandreasonablemanner,takingintoaccountdependentpopulationsandgivingspecialregardtovitalhumanneeds.AnyformofwaterutilisationwhichmightsignificantlyharmhumanhealthandsafetywouldbeaviolationoftheConvention.

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Climate Change: Climatechangewillhaveanenormousadverseeffectonwaterresources,withdisastrousenvironmental,social,andeconomicconsequences,especiallyinthepoorestnations.Itwillfuelthepotentialforwatertobecomea source of serious conflict within and between countries.Andthemostvulnerablenationsareoftenthosewithweakgovernancemechanisms,ornoneatall.Inmuchofthedevelopedworld,robustwatercourseagreementsareinplace.Yet,thosecountrieswouldfeelathometheeffectsofwaterconflictsabroad,intheformofmass migrations, economic and political disruption,andrising food prices.

Topre-emptandaddresstheseissues,theUNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC)iscrucial,butitisnot enough on its owntopromotebettercollaborationamongwatercoursestates:

• TheUNFCCCdoesnot specificallyaimtoenabletransboundaryclimate change adaptationthroughthesustainableandcooperativemanagement of international watercourses;

• Norisitintended topreventandpeacefullysettlethetypesofdisputesthattypicallyarisebetween watercourse states.

TheUNWatercoursesConvention,asaglobal legal instrument specifically designed to govern relations between watercourse states,issoimportantinthiscontext,becauseitwill:

• Support cooperation between watercourse statestowardsrespondingtoenvironmentaldisasters,suchasdroughtsandfloods,andadaptingtheirwater-sharingandmanagementstrategiestotheeffectsofclimatechange;and

• Help ensurethatanymeasuresgovernmentsmaytakeunder the UNFCCC,suchashydropowerdevelopmentandwaterstorage,neitherinjuretheecosystemsofinternationalwatercourses,nordisregardthehealth and livelihoods ofdependentcommunities.

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Forexample,theUNWatercoursesConvention:

• Recognisesfreshwater flowsneededtoprotectecosystemsasbeingjust as importantasotherformsofwaterutilisationinquestionsofwater allocation;

• Includesnatural conditions, transboundary environmental effects,andtheconservation of water resourcesamongthefactorsthatmustbeconsideredinthepromotionofreasonableandequitablewateruseandbenefit-sharingacrossborders;

• Integratesthemanagementofwater quality and quantity;and

• Requiresstatestoactdiligentlyintheprotection and preservation of the ecosystemsofinternationalwatercourses.

Inmanyrespects,theUN Watercourses Convention supplements the CBD.

• Article14(1)(c)oftheCBDrequirespartiesplanningtoimplementmajor measurestonotifyandconsultwithotherstateswhomightbesignificantlyaffected.TheUNWatercoursesConventioncreatesadetailedprocedurefordoingthis,withspecificobligationsandtimetables.

• Thesameistruewithtransboundary pollution—akeythreattobiodiversitythattheCBDdoesnotaddressspecifically,butwhichtheUNWatercoursesConventionclearlycovers.

• WhiletheCBDmerelyrequiresitspartiestofacilitatetheexchange of relevant information,theUNWatercoursesConventionsetsoutinmoredetailhowthisshouldbedone.

TheUNWatercoursesConventionwillthereforeencouragetheproductionanddisseminationofthesortofinformationthatcouldbeincludedinthewebportaloftheCBD’sRiverBasinInitiative(RBI).Initsturn,thisportalcouldhelptopromotetheimportanceoftheUNWatercoursesConvention.

Biodiversity: TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)promotestheconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity,especiallythroughtheprotectionofecosystems.Atthesametime,theCBDrespectscountries’sovereignrightsoverbiologicalresourceswithintheirownterritories.Forinternationalwatercourses,cooperation between watercourse states is essential to protect the wider ecosystem.TheUNWatercoursesConventionoffersthenecessary legal frameworkforthiscollaborationtotakeplace—somethingtheCBDhascalledfor,butalonecannotprovide.

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TheUNWatercoursesConventionwillofferan enhanced legal frameworkformanagingandsustainablyusinginternationalwatercourses.Insodoing,theconventionwillbetterenablestatestocooperatetowardstacklinganyharmfulconditionsrelatingtothoseresource,suchasdroughtanddesertification.Itwillthereforefacilitate the implementation of the UNFCCD.

Forexample,theUNWatercoursesConvention:

• Recognisesthatclimatic factors and variabilityareimportantintheachievementofanequitable and reasonable balanceamongwatercoursestates;

• Requireswatercoursestatesto,whendeveloping,managingandprotectinginternationalwatercourses,dowhattheycantoprevent and mitigate the effects of drought and desertificationthatmaybeharmfultotheirneighbours;and

• Requiresstatestocollect,process,andexchangeinformation on meteorological conditions.

Desertification: TheConventiontoCombatDesertification(UNFCCD)requiresstatestopromotetherestoration,conservation,andsustainablemanagementoflandandwater,andtocooperatewitheachotherfortheprotectionofthoseresources.TheUNFCCDalsorequiresneighbouringcountriestoworktogetherindevelopingactionprogrammes,whichmayincludethejointsustainablemanagementoftransboundarywaterresources.

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TheRamsarConventionworksmostlybymoral persuasion and lacks detailed binding rulesclarifyingtherightsanddutiesofstatessharingwaterresources.Thereis,therefore,aneedforamoresubstantiveframeworkgoverninginterstatecooperation,disputepreventionandsettlementtosupplementtheRamsarConventionanditsguidelinesoninternationalcooperation.

TheUNWatercoursesConventioncansupplythis.Itcontainskeystandards, obligations,andproceduresforpreventingdisputesandfosteringcooperationonthedevelopmentandconservationofinternationalwatercoursesandtheirecosystems,includingwetlands.Fortheworstcases,theUNWatercoursesConventionalsoestablishesrobust conflict resolution mechanisms.TheseprocedureswillfurtherreinforceimplementationofrelevantrecommendationsundertheRamsarConvention.

TheUNWatercoursesConventionwillthereforehelptoensuretheadequateprotectionandsustainablemanagementofthosewetlandsthataresharedbetweentwoormorecountriesorareconnectedtointernationalwatercourses.

Wetlands: TheRamsarConventiononWetlands(RamsarConvention)promotestheprotectionandmanagementofwetlands,requiringcountries to consult with each other inrelationtotransboundarywetlandsystemsorsharedfreshwaterresources.ExistingRamsarresolutionsfurtherrecognisetheneedfortransboundarywatercooperation,butavailable guidance only goes as far as to recommend,forexample,thatstatesjointlyidentifyandmanagetransboundarywetlands,establishmanagementregimesforsharedriverbasins,andexchangeexpertiseandinformation.

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Country/regional Date of signature States that ratified (r), economic integration accepted (A), approved (AA), organisation acceded to the convention (a)

AnneX I: rAtIFICAtIon HIstorY As oF JULY 2010

Côte d’Ivoire 25Sep1998Finland 31Oct1997 23Jan1998AGermany 13Aug1998 15Jan2007rGuinea-Bissau 19May2010aHungary 20Jul1999 26Jan2000AAIraq 9Jul2001aJordan 17Apr1998 22Jun1999rLebanon 25May1999aLibyan Arab Jamahiriya 14Jun2005aLuxembourg 14Oct1997Namibia 19May2000 29Aug2001rNetherlands 9Mar2000 9Jan2001ANorway 30Sep1998 30Sep1998rParaguay 25Aug1998Portugal 11Nov1997 22Jun2005rQatar 28Feb2002aSouth Africa 13Aug1997 26Oct1998rSpain 24Sep2009aSweden 15Jun2000aSyrian Arab Republic 11Aug1997 2Apr1998rTunisia 19May2000 22Apr2009rUzbekistan 4Sep.2007aVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 22Sep1997Yemen 17May2000

23

TheTablebelowcontainsthecurrentsignatoriesandcontractingstatestotheUNWatercoursesConvention.Thesecondcolumnshowsthesignatories,i.e.,thosecountrieswhichsignedtheConventionduringthe3-yearperiodinwhichitwasopenforsignature(Article34).Amongthose,fivestateshaveyettocompletetheprocessforbecomingpartiesbyactuallyratifyingtheConvention.Theothercountries,whichbecamecontractingstatesafterthat3-yearperiod,didnothavetosignit.Theydirectlyacceptedit,approvedit,oraccededtotheConvention.Thelegaleffectsof

ratification,acceptance,approvaloraccessionarethesame.Ratificationapplieswhenthefinalactforbecomingapartyisprecededbysignature.Theterms“accession,”“acceptance,”and“approval”varyaccordingtoacountry’sinternalusage,butagain,producetheexactsamelegaleffects.

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AnneX II: votIng reCords

Sponsors (38)

AntiguaandBarbuda,Bangladesh,Bhutan,Brazil,Cambodia,Cameroon,Canada,Chile,Denmark,Finland,Germany,Greece,Grenada,Honduras,Hungary,Italy,Japan,Jordan,LaoPeople’sDemocraticRepublic,Latvia,Liechtenstein,Malaysia,Mexico,Nepal,Netherlands,Norway,Portugal,RepublicofKorea,Romania,Sudan,Sweden,SyrianArabRepublic,Tunisia,UnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland,UnitedStatesofAmerica,Uruguay,Venezuela,Vietnam.

In Favour (106)

Albania,Algeria,Angola,AntiguaandBarbuda,Armenia,Australia,Austria,Bahrain,Bangladesh,Belarus,Belgium*,Botswana,Brazil,BruneiDarussalam,BurkinaFaso,Cambodia,Cameroon,Canada,Chile,CostaRica,Côted’Ivoire,Croatia,Cyprus,CzechRepublic,Denmark,Djibouti,Estonia,Fiji*,Finland,Gabon,Georgia,Germany,Greece,Guyana,Haiti,Honduras,Hungary,Iceland,Indonesia,Iran(IslamicRepublicof),Ireland,Italy,Jamaica,Japan,Jordan,Kazakhstan,Kenya,Kuwait,LaoPeople’sDemocraticRepublic,Latvia,Lesotho,Liberia,LibyanArabJamahiriya,Liechtenstein,Lithuania,Luxembourg,Madagascar,Malawi,Malaysia,Maldives,Malta,MarshallIslands,Mauritius,Mexico,Micronesia(FederatedStatesof),Morocco,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal,Netherlands,NewZealand,Nigeria*,Norway,Oman,PapuaNewGuinea,Philippines,Poland,Portugal,Qatar,RepublicofKorea,Romania,RussianFederation,Samoa,SanMarino,SaudiArabia,SierraLeone,Singapore,Slovakia,Slovenia,SouthAfrica,Sudan,Suriname,Sweden,SyrianArabRepublic,Thailand,TrinidadandTobago,Tunisia,Ukraine,UnitedArabEmirates,UnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland,UnitedStatesofAmerica,Uruguay,Venezuela,Vietnam,Yemen,Zambia.

*Theofficialvoterecorded103votesinfavourand27abstentions.Subsequently,however,Belgium,Fiji,andNigeriainformedthattheyhadintendedtovoteinfavour.Forthisreason,thislistincludesthemamongcountriescastingavoteofapproval.

Abstentions (26)

Andorra,Argentina,Azerbaijan,Bolivia,Bulgaria,Colombia,Cuba,Ecuador,Egypt,Ethiopia,France,Ghana,Guatemala,India,Israel,Mali,Monaco,Mongolia,Pakistan,Panama,Paraguay,Peru,Rwanda,Spain,UnitedRepublicofTanzania,Uzbekistan.

Absent (31)

Afghanistan,Bahamas,Barbados,Belize,Benin,Bhutan,CapeVerde,Comoros,DemocraticPeople’sRepublicofKorea,DominicanRepublic,ElSalvador,Eritrea,Guinea,Lebanon,Mauritania,Myanmar,Niger,Palau,SaintKitts&Nevis,SaintLucia,SaintVincentandtheGrenadines,Senegal,SolomonIslands,SriLanka,Swaziland,Tajikistan,TheformerYugoslavRepublicofMacedonia,Turkmenistan,Uganda,Zaire,Zimbabwe.

Against (3)

Burundi,China,Turkey.

24

On21May1997,theUnitedNationsGeneralAssembly,atits51stSession,approvedResolutionA/RES/51/229,adoptingtheUNWatercoursesConventionandinvitingcountriestobecomepartiestoit(UNDoc.A/51/PV.99).Thetablebelowshowsthevotingrecords,includingtheConvention’ssponsors.Duringthevoting,thosestatesunderscoredtheimportanceoftheConventionandurgedallmemberstatesoftheUnitedNationstosupportitsadoption.Thestatesthatsponsored

andvotedinfavouroftheConventionarenotunderalegalobligationtobecomeparties.However,theirsponsorshipandapprovingvotecreatedanexpectationintheinternationalcommunitythat,inresponsetothecallforratificationscontainedinResolutionA/RES/51/229,thosecountrieswouldeventuallyjointheConvention.

25

AnneX III: tHe InternAtIonAL CommUnItYThe UN Watercourses Convention in the eyes of the International Community

Calls for ratifications:

UNSGAB’sHashimotoActionPlansIandII,of2006and2010,respectively

2006DecisionVIII/27ofthe8thConferenceofthePartiestotheConventiononBiodiversity,reiteratedatCOP-9,in2008,byCBDDecisionIX/19

UNSecretary-General,actinginhiscapacityasdepositary,aheadofthe2007,2008,2009and2010UnitedNationsTreatyEvents

TheDutchGovernmentandtheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram,insupportofthe2007UnitedNationsTreatyEvent

2007CallforActionontheRatificationoftheUNWatercoursesConventionbyWestAfricanStates

HisRoyalHighnessthePrinceofOrange,speakingtothePlenaryofthe118thAssemblyoftheInter-ParliamentarianUnion,asChairofUNSGAB,in2008

GlobalPublicPolicyNetwork(GPPN),NGOs,Women,andTheDutchGovernment,inthecontextoftheReviewofCSD-13DecisionsonWater&Sanitation,duringthe16thSessionoftheCommissiononSustainableDevelopment,in2008

TheGovernmentofIraqduringthe36thMeetingoftheRamsarStandingCommitteeon25-29February2008

TheDutchGovernment,duringtherecentinformalMeetingofWaterDirectorsoftheEuropeanUnion.CandidateandEFTACountries,in2008

2008AntiguaDeclarationonthe1997UnitedNationsConventionontheLawofNon-NavigationalUsesofInternationalWatercourses

2008MediterraneanCivilSocietyStatementtotheEuro-MediterraneanMinisterialConferenceonWater(December22th2008)

2009BangkokPlanofActionforStrengthenedTransboundaryFreshwaterGovernance.

2010OSUDeclaration,InterimGuineaCurrentCommission,duringthe2ndMeetingoftheCommitteeofWestandCentralAfricanMinistersoftheGuineaCurrentLargeMarineEcosystemProject.

International Policy Documents taking note of the importance of the Convention:

1999RamsarConventionGuidelinesforIntegratingWetlandConservationandWiseUseintoRiverBasinManagement(AnnextoResolutionVII.18)

1999ProtocolonWaterandHealthtothe1992ConventionontheProtectionandUseofTransboundaryWatercoursesandInternationalLakes

2000ReportoftheWorldCommissiononDams

2003“WaterforPeaceStatement,”adoptedduringthe3rdWorldWaterForum,inJapan

2004UnitedNations“WaterwithoutBorders”Backgrounder,launchedaheadoftheUNInternationalDecadeforAction:WaterforLife

2008DeclarationoftheEuro-MediterraneanMinisterialConferenceonWater,adoptedintheEuro-MediterraneanConferenceonWater,Jordan(22December2008).

26

The UN Watercourse Convention Global Initiative

Partners in events and other activities to raise awareness of the UN Watercourses Convention:

AfricanCentreforWaterResearch

AssociationofCivilOrganizationsofLakeBalaton(ACOLB)

ConservationInternational

EconomicCommunityofWestAfricanStates(ECOWAS)

FrenchWaterPartnership

GlobalNatureFund

GlobalWaterPartnership-Bangladesh,Europe,Mediterranean,andWestAfrica

GovernmentofGhana

GovernmentofItaly

GovernmentofNetherlands

GovernmentofNorway

GovernmentofSweden

GreenCross

GTZ

IHP–HELPCentreforWaterLaw,PolicyandScience,undertheauspicesofUNESCO

InterimGuineaCurrentCommission

InternationalWaterAssociation

IUCN—TheWorldConservationUnion

LivingLakes

LondonSchoolofEconomicsandPoliticalScience:LondonWaterResearchGroup

OrganisationpourlaMiseenValeurdufleuveSénégal(OMVS)

PromotionAssociationforMountain-River-LakeRegionalSustainableDevelopment(MRLSD)

SecretariatoftheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(SCBD)

SecretariattotheRamsarConventiononWetlands

StockholmInternationalWaterInstitute(SIWI)

SwedishNetworkofPeace,ConflictandDevelopmentResearch

UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)

UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme

UNOfficeofLegalAffairs

UNSGAB

WaterandClimateCoalition

WorldDevelopmentMovement

WWF

27

Antigua Declaration on the 1997 United Nations Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses[online](4thDecember2008),Spanishversionavailableat:http://www.gwpcentroamerica.org/uploaded/content/event/889753255.pdf.

Bangkok Plan of Action for Strengthened Transboundary Freshwater Governance,[online],High-LevelMinisterialConferenceonStrengtheningTransboundaryFreshwaterGovernance:theEnvironmentalSustainabilityChallenge,Bangkok(20-22May2009),availableathttp://www.unep.org/environmentalgovernance/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=aX1QDZAhEEE%3D&tabid=604&language=en-US.

BBCNews,African floods prompt aid appeal, [online]Sept.21,2007,availableat:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7005969.stm.

Charter of the Senegal River, 28May2002(onfilewithauthors).

CommissiononSustainableDevelopment,16thSession, Review of CSD-13 Decisions On Water & Sanitation,StatementbyH.E.Mr.TonBoonvonOchssée,AmbassadorforSustainableDevelopmentinNetherlands,[online](12May2008),availableat:http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/statements/netherlands_12may_water.pdf

CommissiononSustainableDevelopment,16thSession,Review of CSD-13 Decisions On Water & Sanitation, StatementbyNGOs[online](13May2008),availableathttp://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/statements/ngo_13may_water.pdf

CommissiononSustainableDevelopment,16thSession,Review of CSD-13 Decisions On Water & Sanitation,StatementbyWomenMajorGroup[online](13May2008),availableat:http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/statements/women_13may_water.pdf

Convention and Statutes relating to the Development of the Lake Chad Basin,[online]22May1964,Cameroon-Chad-Niger-Nigeria,availableat:http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7414b/w7414b05.htm

ConventiononBiodiversity,COP8Curitiba,Brazil,20-31Mar.2006,DecisionVIII/27,Alienspeciesthatthreatenecosystems,habitatsorspecies(Article8(h)).Further consideration of gaps and inconsistencies in the international regulatory framework,[online]Paragraph22,availableat:http://www.cbd.int/decisions/?m=COP-08&id=11041&lg=0

ConventiononBiodiversity,COP9,Bonn,Germany,19-30May2008,Biological diversity of inland water ecosystems, Decision IX/19, Paragraph 3, [online] available at: http://www.cbd.int/decisions/?m=COP-09&id=11662&lg=0.

ConventiononBiodiversity,COP9,Bonn,Germany,19-30May2008,Biological Diversity of Inland Water Ecosystems: The allocation and management of water for maintaining ecological functions and the role of watercourse conventions in implementing the programme of work, Note by the Executive Secretary, [online]U.N.Doc.UNEP/CBD/COP/9/INF/4(28Apr.2008),availableat:http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-09/information/cop-09-inf-04-en.pdf

Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, [online]17Mar.1992,31I.L.M.1312(inforce6Oct.1996),availableat:http://www.unece.org/env/water/text/text.htm

Convention on the Statute of the Volta River and Setting up the Volta Basin Authority,19Jan.2007(notinforce)(onfilewithauthors).

Convention relating to the Creation of the Gambia River Basin Development Organization, [online]Article19,30June1978,Gambia-Guinea-Senegal(TheOMVGwaslaterjoinedbyGuinea-Bissau.),availableat:http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7414b/w7414b0c.htm

TheDailyStar,India,Nepal trade blame for worst floods in decades,[online](7Aug.2007),availableat:http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/08/07/d708071322125.htm.

Dakar Call for Action on the Ratification of the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses(onfilewithauthors).

EcologicalSocietyofAmerica,IssuesinEcology,Water in a Changing World, [online]Number9(2001),p.1,availableat:http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/pdf/issue9.pdf

EUWaterInitiative,EUWI Brochure,[online](2004),availableat:http://www.euwi.net/files/euwi/niki_tmpphpuQygJH.pdf

Final Synthesis,InformalMeetingofWaterDirectorsoftheEuropeanUnion,CandidateandEFTACountries,Brdo–Slovenia,16-17June2008,p.5(onfilewithauthors).

Garane,A(2008)UN Watercourses Convention: Applicability and Relevance in West Africa,[online],availableat:http://www.internationalwaterlaw.org/bibliography/WWF/RA_West_Africa.pdf

GlobalPublicPolicyNetwork(GPPN),Up to and Beyond 2015: Emerging Issues and Future Challenges for the International Water and Sanitation Agenda. A synthesis report of global stakeholder views…,(onfilewithauthors)

GlobalPublicPolicyNetwork(GPPN),Water, Sanitation and IWRM: Some Key Recommendations for CSD, A synthesis report of global stakeholder views…, (onfilewithauthors)

HisRoyalHighnessthePrinceofOrange,speechdeliveredtothePlenaryofthe118thAssemblyoftheInter-ParliamentarianUnion,CapeTown,SouthAfrica,13-18April2008,[online]availableat:http://www.unsgab.org/about/docs/chair_080415.htm

InterimGuineaCurrentCommission,OSU Declaration,[online],2ndMeetingoftheCommitteeofWestandCentralAfricanMinistersoftheGuineaCurrentLargeMarineEcosystemProject(Accra,2ndJuly2010),availableat:http://gclme.org/igcc/reports/Reports_10/OSU_declaration/OSU_declaration_English_version.pdf.

InternationalCourtofJustice,Case Concerning the Gabcíkovo-Nagymaros Project (Hung. v. Slovk.),[online]1997I.C.J.No.92(25Sept.),availableat:http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/92/7375.pdf.

InternationalLawCommission,60thSession,Geneva,5May-6Juneand7July-8August2008,The law of transboundary aquifers: Title and texts of the preamble and draft articles 1 to 19 on the law of transboundary aquifers adopted, on second reading, by the Drafting Committee, UNDoc.A/CN.4/L.724(29May2008).

bIbLIogrApHY

JohanG.Lammers,InformationDocument“WhytheUNWatercoursesConventionShouldBeRatifiedandEnterIntoForce,”AndrewHudson,Presentation“TheUNWatercoursesConvention&theMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,”andH.E.Mr.FranciscusAntoniusMariaMajoor,OpeningSpeech,duringthePanel/Reception“AGlobalCoalitiontoBringintoForcetheConventionontheLawoftheNon-NavigationalUsesofInternationalWatercourses”,NewYork,1October2007,organisedjointlybyTheNetherlands,GreenCrossInternational,UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram,UnitedNationsOfficeofLegalAffairs,andWWF,insupportofthe2007UnitedNationsTreatyEvent.

Mediterranean Civil Society Statement to the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water,[online]DeadSea(December22th2008),availableathttp://www.medaquaministerial2010.net/events/12april/Civil_Society_Statement_3.doc.

OregonUniversityCollegeofScienceetal.,Atlas of International Freshwater Agreements[online](2002),availableat:http://www.transboundarywaters.orst.edu/publications/atlas/

Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems in the Southern African Development Community Region, [online]7Aug.2000,40I.L.M.321(inforce22Sep.2003),availableat:http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7414b/w7414b0n.htm

Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes…,[online]London,17July1999,availableat:http://www.unece.org/env/documents/2000/wat/mp.wat.2000.1.e.pdf.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat,[online]2February1971(inforce21Dec.1975),availableat:http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-documents-texts-convention-on/main/ramsar/1-31-38%5E20671_4000_0

RamsarConvention,10th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, Changwon, Republic of Korea, 28 Oct.-4 Nov. 2008, Wetlands and river basin management: consolidated scientific and technical guidance, Resolution X.19, [online]availableat:http://ramsar.rgis.ch/pdf/res/key_res_x_19_e.pdf

RamsarConvention,Report of the 36th Meeting of the Standing Committee,Gland,Switzerland,[online]27-29February2008,p.29,para.203,availableat:http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-documents-standing-36th-meeting-of-the-22742/main/ramsar/1-31-41%5E22742_4000_0

RamsarConvention,7th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, San José, Costa Rica, 10-18 May 1999, Guidelines for Integrating Wetland Conservation and Wise Use into River Basin Management[online](AnnextoResolutionVII.18),Para.61.2,availableat:http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-documents-guidelines-guidelines-for-20778/main/ramsar/1-31-105%5E20778_4000_0

RamsarConvention,7thMeetingoftheConferenceoftheContractingParties,SanJosé,CostaRica,10-18May1999,Guidelines for Integrating Wetland Conservation and Wise Use into River Basin Management [online](AnnextoResolutionVII.18),Para.61.2,availableat:http://www.ramsar.org/key_guide_basin_e.htm

Report of the World Commission on Dams, Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-Making,[online]p.252-53(2000),availableat:http://www.dams.org//docs/report/wcdreport.pdf

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Supporting Partners

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UnitedNationsSecretaryGeneral’sAdvisoryBoardonWaterandSanitation(UNSGAB), Hashimoto Action Plan II,[online](Jan.2010),availableat:http://www.unsgab.org/HAP-II/HAP-II_en.pdf.

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WaterforPeace,[online],StatementtoMinisterialConference,Kyoto,Japan,March2003,3rdWorldWaterForum,p.56,availableat:http://www.mlit.go.jp/tochimizushigen/mizsei/wwf3/MC_Final_Report_screen.pdf.

Wouters,P,1999.The Legal Response to International Water Scarcity and Water Conflicts: The UN Watercourses Convention and Beyond,[online]availableat:http://www.africanwater.org/pat_wouters1.htm

WWF,OrinocoRiver&FloodedForests:AGlobalEcoregion,[online]availableat:http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/orinoco_flooded_forests.cfm

WWF International

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Acknowledgements:

ThecollaboratingorganisationswishtothankMr.ChristianBehrmann,Dr.BertrandCharrier,Mr.MartinGeiger,Mr.PhilipLeonard,Mr.LifengLi,LuminousDesign,Mr.PetrObrdlik,Mr.JamiePittock,Ms.MicaRuiz,Dr.DavidTickner,Mr.ChristopherWilliams,andothercolleagueswithinournetworksfortheirvaluablecontributiontothecontentanddesignofthisbooklet.

Formedin2007,theHSBCClimatePartnershipbringstogetherHSBC,TheClimateGroup,EarthwatchInstitute,SmithsonianTropicalResearchInstituteandWWFtotackletheurgentthreatofclimatechangeonpeople,water,forestsandcities.

Formoreinformationvisitwww.hsbc.com/climatepartnership

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About WWF

Withaglobalnetworkcoveringmorethan100countriesandnearly50yearsofconservationworkbehindus,WWFisoneofthemostexperiencedenvironmentalorganisationsintheworld,activelycontributingtodeliveringfreshwaterprojectsandprogrammesaroundtheworld.

For further information contact:

WWF Ms.FlaviaLouresatflavia.loures@wwfus.org

UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science Dr.AlistairRieu-Clarkeata.rieuclarke@dundee.ac.uk

Green Cross International Ms.Marie-LaureVercambreatmarie-laure.vercambre@gci.ch