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The Protocol on Water and Health: Where Health, Environment and Development Policies Meet
Wednesday 20 August
Afternoon Seminar
Convenors: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, Romanian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO-EURO)
Slow progress towards the MDGs in certain regions has shown the shortcomings of voluntary commitments that, even when taken at high-level, might fail to deliver the wished results. Can a legally binding tool be more effective to achieve access to safe water and adequate sanitation to everyone and to implement the human right to water?
The UNECE/WHO-EURO Protocol on Water and Health is the world’s first international treaty in force designed to reduce water-related deaths and diseases through improved water management and universal access to safe water and adequate sanitation.
The seminar will illustrate the different pillars of the Protocol that address the whole chain of causes and effects of water-related problems.
The establishment of systems of surveillance and response to water-related outbreaks, the adoption of national targets through close cooperation of all concerned sectors, the mechanism to ensure mutual support between Parties and in particular the Ad Hoc Project Facilitation Mechanism designed to respond to assistance needs of countries with economies in transition, as well as the compliance review mechanism open to communications from the public, are among the most remarkable Protocol’s features.
The seminar will discuss the advantages of this comprehensive framework, the progress in national implementation and the challenges ahead.
Seminar Programme 13:30-17:00, Room K11
Moderator: Mr. François Münger, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
13:30 |
Are there Still Water Related Diseases in the UNECE Region?
Mr. Thor Axel Stenström, Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Sweden |
13:50 |
Can the Protocol on Water and Health Help?
Ms. Francesca Bernardini, UNECE |
14.10 |
Panel Discussion :
• Establishing National Implementation Roadmaps Mr. Pierre Studer, Federal Office of Public Health, Switzerland
• Safeguarding the Rights of Populations to Safe Water and Adequate Sanitation
Prof. Attila Tanzi, University of Bologna, Italy
• Mobilizing Funds Through the Protocol’s Ad Hoc Project Facilitation Mechanism.
Ms. Carola Beatrice Bjørklund, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
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15.00 |
Coffee Break |
15.30 |
Panel Discussion :
• Measuring Progress and Preventing and Reacting to Health Outbreaks
Mr. Enzo Funari, National Institute of Health, Italy
• The Protocol as a Change Management Tool: Using the Provisions of the Protocol to Adapt to Climate Change
Mr. Roger Aertgeerts, WHO-EURO
• What it Means in Practice for Countries: Advantages and Difficulties
Mr. Gheorghe Constantin, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Romania
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16:50 |
Wrapping Up |
17:00 |
Close of Seminar |
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