HRH Prince of Orange closes UNESCO-IHE 50^th anniversary celebration ceremony

His Royal Highness The Prince of Orange, Chairman of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, closed the Celebration Ceremony of UNESCO-IHE’s 50^th anniversary. Prince Willem Alexander, an alumnus of the class of 1998, highlighted the need to have well-educated professionals to change the world’s water future. “It cannot be denied that this need has grown in the past fifty years, and will continue to grow. After all, the field is becoming increasingly complex, because the various interests at stake – water, food production, energy and ecosystems – impact much more directly on each other”, said His Royal Highness.

See full speech
Read the full article

IHP co-sponsors 5^th Conference of the International Water History Association

The 5^th Conference of the International Water History Association (IWHA) was held from 13-17 June 2007 in Tampere, Finland. It was co-organized and hosted by the University of Tampere and the Technical University of Tampere. The conference was co-sponsored by the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) within the framework of its project "The History of Water and Civilization": a comprehensive, benchmark reference series on the history of humanity's multifaceted interaction with water.

As one of Finland's most important centres for research and industrial development, the city of Tampere has depended historically on the water of its rivers and lakes for economic and leisure activities, and focuses considerable research efforts on sustainable water use. The setting, benefiting from the seasonal midnight sun, provided the background for a scientific conference with more than 40 sessions and three roundtable panels. Four keynote lectures covered the topics of "privatization of water", "water and citizenship", "water and Finnish development cooperation", and "adaptation to climate change".

Over 250 registered participants from more than 50 countries represented a wide range of disciplines, including history, geography, anthropology, archaeology, civil engineering and political science. The presentations ranged from detailed studies of local river development to discussions of historical hydraulic technologies and global approaches to social participation in water management. For the first time at an IWHA conference, a roundtable panel was organized to discuss "Water History in Israel-Palestine in the 20th Century".

In his opening address, Professor Fekri Hassan, the IWHA President, highlighted the close cooperation between the Association and IHP, particularly through the project of writing The History of Water and Civilization (HWC).

IHP organized an editorial meeting of the HWC book series in Tampere on 18 June. The series' Editorial Board, composed of outstanding scholars from various disciplines representing all world regions, established the project's editorial organization.

The next IWHA conference will be merged with the 2009 World Congress of Environmental History, organized by the International Consortium of Environmental History Organizations (ICEHO) in Copenhagen, Denmark.

CATHALAC announces Latin American and Caribbean Water Prizes – PLACA 2007

July 31 is the nomination deadline for the 2007 PLACA Water Prizes. The objective of the Prizes is to recognize and share innovative solutions to some of the most demanding issues related to water management and conservation in the region. Likewise, it seeks to honor outstanding local, national and regional efforts and best practices that serve as examples to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, most of which are water-related.

More information on PLACA 2007 guidelines and nomination form

Access a complete list of water events around the world

Du droit de l’eau au droit à l’eau au Maroc et ailleurs (“From Water Law to the Human Right to Water in Morocco and Elsewhere”). Houria Tazi Sadeq. UNESCO/Eddif/UNU/UNU-EHS, 2006 (French Only)

This publication, the first of its kind in Morocco, deals with water law from the perspective of sustainable development. The book offers a useful case study for the exchange of similar experiences in other countries. It could also promote the emergence of a new field of studies related to changes in water governance and propose innovative solutions to new challenges arising in the field of water resources management.

For a copy of this book, please send an email to waterportal@unesco.org

When did you first know that you wanted to study international water law and what was your reason for wanting to do so?
I undertook my undergraduate studies in law at the Universities of Dundee and Utrecht. The subjects I enjoyed most during my undergraduate years related to the environment and international law, so I decided to pursue a Masters in Natural Resources Law and Policy. As part of my LLM, I took a number of excellent water law courses delivered by Professor Patricia Wouters. I found international water law to be really fascinating as it combined a number of my interests, e.g., development studies, environmental protection, and international law. The magnitude of the world's water crisis and the fundamental need to strengthen legal frameworks for transboundary waters in so many countries around the world also made the study of international water law - and its application - very enticing. 

So, with the work you do now at UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, how are you able to mix your interests with your job?
As a lecturer at the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science I'm able to deepen my knowledge and understanding of international law and water resource issues both in terms of theory and application. For example, I am currently involved in two EU funded research projects (BRAHMATWINN and STRIVER), which involve over 25 interdisciplinary partners (universities, international organizations, government ministries, etc.) covering 6 river basins in 11 countries throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. Key aspects of the projects include IWRM, climate change, transboundary cooperation and governance. In both projects, I act as principal investigator for our Centre, where we take the lead on analyzing the role of law in the wider context of IWRM. I am also currently working with WWF-International and GWP-West Africa to look at the applicability of the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention both to European and West African States. In addition, I teach a postgraduate Masters course on the International Law of Water Resources, and supervise several Masters and Ph.D. students specializing in legal aspects related to transboundary waters. The teaching and supervision allows me to share knowledge and ideas, and keep abreast of developments in international law and water resource issues. All things considered, I therefore couldn't imagine a better job for pursuing my interests.

The focus of this newsletter issue is water and international law. You mention the UN Watercourses Convention in your previous response. Why is this Convention important?
In my opinion, the UN Watercourses Convention is important because of its content and the way in which it was developed. The Convention represents the closest thing to a global consensus on the rights and obligations of States over their shared watercourses, having been initiated by the UN General Assembly in the 1950s, developed by the International Law Commission from the 70s to the 90s, and adopted by States following two years of intense negotiation in 1997. The voting record shows that most States supported the Convention with only 3 States voting against. In terms of content the Convention provides the foundation for promoting IWRM at the international (transboundary) level through its basin approach, primary rule of equitable and reasonable utilization, supplementary provisions on no significant harm and ecosystem protection, and well developed procedural rules. It is therefore disappointing that - despite recent calls from groups such as the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation and WWF-International - there are only 16 Contracting States to date.

How is your institution working with UNESCO to promote international water law?
There are various ways in which we work with UNESCO to promote international water law. For instance, we provide legal input into the IHP HELP (Hydrology, Environment, Life and Policy) Programme and act as regional coordinating unit for Europe. Also, Sergei Vinogradov, Fadia Daibes and Patricia Wouters have provided expert legal advice relating to UNESCO’s work on the ILC’s draft articles on transboundary aquifers, and Andrew Allan, will attend the forthcoming IHP 2nd Expert Meeting on "New Directions in IWRM implementation in Basins, Sub-basins and Aquifers" in Paris. However, perhaps the most exciting activity we are presently involved in is a collaborative initiative between UNESCO PCCP, UNESCO IHE Delft, and ourselves to develop an interdisciplinary Masters Course in Water Governance. The latter initiative fits strongly in line with our Centre’s core mission to build a new generation of local water leaders.

• The history of international water treaties dates as far back as 2500 BC, when the two Sumerian city-states of Lagash and Umma crafted an agreement ending a water dispute along the Tigris River.
• There are more than 3600 international water treaties dating from 805 AD to 1984 AD.
• The UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses was adopted May 21, 1997 after 27 years of development. The Global Convention sets out the basis rights and obligations between States relating to the management of international watercourses.
• While the ten-year anniversary of the Watercourses Convention passed in May 2007, only 16 nations have ratified the Convention. For the Convention to enter into force, 35 are needed.
• The primary substantive rule of international law is that States must utilize their international watercourses in an equitable and reasonable way.
• In the 20th century, only seven minor skirmishes took place between nations over shared water resources while over 145 treaties were signed during the same period of time.

The section “Did You Know…?” is taken primarily from the Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database (TFDD) at Oregon State University.

- International Hydrological Programme
- World Water Assessment Programme
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
- Water-related Institutes and Centres under the Auspices of UNESCO
- UNESCO Water-related Chairs

Access the UNESCO Water Portal Weekly Update archives (starting at issue N° 85)

For contributions or comments, contact the editor at waterportal@unesco.org