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UNECE Water Convention

Legislative instrument details: UNECE Water Convention

Classification
Legal name UN ECE Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes
Short name UNECE Water Convention
CELEX reference
Identification number
Issued by UNECE Environment and Human Settlements Division
URL to issuer http://www.unece.org/env/water/welcome.h...
Parent legislative instrument
Related instrument(s) Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes - Declaration by the Community pursuant to Article 25 (4) of the Convention
UNECE protocol on Water and Health
Valid from 06/10/1996
Abstract Multilateral cooperation for the protection of natural resources to prevent, control and reduce transboundary impact of surface or ground waters which mark, cross or are located on boundaries between two or more States. Transboundary impact means any significant adverse effect on the environment resulting from a change in the conditions of transboundary waters caused by a human activity, the physical origin of which is situated wholly or in part within an area under the jurisdiction of another Party.
The Convention of 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.
The Convention 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.

On 28 November 2003, amendments to articles 25 and 26 of the Convention were introduced by decision III/1 to allow States situated outside the UNECE region to become Parties to the Convention.
Reporting framework
Reporting obligations
Geographic scope 36 countries of the UNECE region
Comments 36 countries have ratified the Water Convention (see status of ratification on Convention website for a list). It enters into force in a new member 90 days after signature. Under the Convention no reporting is required but Parties at their meetings share information on their implementation of the Convention and of soft law instruments (recommendations, guidelines) adopted under the framework of the Convention. The Convention encourages the signature of multilateral cooperation agreements under its umbrella.
EC entry into force 06/10/1996
EC accession 14/09/1995
Convention secretariat UNECE Environment, Housing and Land Management Division