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Legal instrument details: UNECE – WHO Regional Office for Europe Protocol on Water and Health
Classification
- 15.10.20.20 Water protection and management
- Conventions
Short name
UNECE – WHO Regional Office for Europe Protocol on Water and Health
CELEX reference
Identification number
URL to issuer
Parent legal instrument
Abstract
The main aim of the Protocol is to protect human health and well-being by better water management, including the protection of water ecosystems, and by preventing, controlling and reducing water-related diseases. The Protocol 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.
Reporting obligations
Comments
Adopted in 1999 and entered into force in 2005, the Protocol is a unique legal instrument displaying an integrated approach towards sustainable water management and the protection of human health and well-being. To date, the Protocol binds 26 countries in the pan-European region, with over 15 other States actively engaged in Protocol activities and over 5 of them regularly submitting reports on voluntary basis.
The main obligations of the Protocol are to set, monitor and regularly review intersectoral targets on water, sanitation and health (article 6), to establish effective systems for surveillance and response to water-related diseases (article 8) and to cooperate on international matters related to water, sanitation and health (articles 11 to 14). Furthermore, the Protocol enshrines provisions on public awareness, education and training, and access to information, and it provides a framework for accountability and public participation.
In terms of scope, the Protocol applies to surface freshwater, groundwater, estuaries, coastal waters which are used for recreation, aquaculture or the production or harvesting of shellfish and enclosed waters generally available for bathing. Its provisions cover the whole water and sanitation cycle, i.e. water in the course of abstraction, transport, treatment or supply and wastewater in the course of collection, transport, treatment and discharge or reuse.
The secretariat functions for the Protocol are jointly carried out by the UNECE and the WHO/Regional Office for Europe secretariats.
The main obligations of the Protocol are to set, monitor and regularly review intersectoral targets on water, sanitation and health (article 6), to establish effective systems for surveillance and response to water-related diseases (article 8) and to cooperate on international matters related to water, sanitation and health (articles 11 to 14). Furthermore, the Protocol enshrines provisions on public awareness, education and training, and access to information, and it provides a framework for accountability and public participation.
In terms of scope, the Protocol applies to surface freshwater, groundwater, estuaries, coastal waters which are used for recreation, aquaculture or the production or harvesting of shellfish and enclosed waters generally available for bathing. Its provisions cover the whole water and sanitation cycle, i.e. water in the course of abstraction, transport, treatment or supply and wastewater in the course of collection, transport, treatment and discharge or reuse.
The secretariat functions for the Protocol are jointly carried out by the UNECE and the WHO/Regional Office for Europe secretariats.
EC accession
Convention secretariat
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