The Challenge of Improved Global Freshwater Governance and the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention: High-Level Panel Debate

Tuesday 19 August
Lunch Side Event

Convenors: Conservation International (CI), Green Cross International (GCI), INBO-Europe, The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

12:05-13:25         Room K11

The Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses was adopted in 1997 at the UN General Assembly as a global policy framework that would contribute to the sustainable and equitable utilisation, development, conservation, management and protection of international watercourses. More than a decade later, the convention counts 16 parties — 19 short of the number required for entry into force. The side event will gather high-level government representatives from different countries to discuss the need to strengthen international water law for improving the governance of transboundary waters and the potential role that the convention could play in that regard, especially once in force and widely implemented. The panel will draw from another seminar that will take place in the morning in the same room, debating the content, applicability, entry into force and implementation of the convention.

Speakers confirmed:

• Moderator: Mr. Jean-François Donzier, Secretary General, Permanent Technical Secretariat, International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)

• Honorable Mrs. Maureen Ballestero, Vice-President of the National Legislative Assembly, President of the Permanent Special Commission of Environment

• Mr. Lasse Gustavsson, Secretary General, WWF Sweden

• Dr. Alejandro Iza, Head, Environmental Law Centre, The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Germany

• Honorable Christopher Addae, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Ghana

• Mr. Rajendra Kishor Kshetri, Acting secretary, of Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS)

Invitation for this event