Historic gathering of the parties to the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention at UNESCO

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© UNESCO

Water does not respect political and cultural boundaries, yet it must be shared equitably to meet socio-economic, environmental and basic human needs. Until recently, there were no legal instruments to codify non-navigational uses of international watercourses. Two conventions were adopted in the 1990s, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, which was adopted in 1997 and entered into force on 17 August 2014. Today, the parties to the Convention met for the first time, for a 2-day informal gathering hosted by UNESCO.

As water demand rises, we are increasingly dependent on international water courses, which account for approximately 60% of global river flow. In all, there are 276 international basins hosting about 40% of the world’s population. The Convention, based on the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization and participation, is a key mechanism to address the current water crisis, facilitate cooperation and prevent potential conflicts.

This first gathering of the 36 countries that have ratified the Convention is a major milestone in international water law and diplomacy, as well as the culmination of a 2-decade effort by the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC). The meeting is being hosted by the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO (IHP), in recognition of the leading role played by UNESCO-IHP in promoting water cooperation, water diplomacy and the sustainable management of transboundary aquifers. Additionally, UNESCO-IHP’s International Shared Aquifers Resources Management Programme has significantly improved the scientific knowledge on transboundary aquifers and shared groundwater resources over the past 10 years, thus providing scientific inputs inform decision-making and legal frameworks.

The first day of the informal gathering was attended by representatives of Parties of the convention exclusively. Some International Organizations and NGOs were invited to participate in the second day.

Related information:

• Law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses (Summaries of the Work of the International Law Commission)
• Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses 
• International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO-IHP)