The Arab Ministerial Water Council adopted a resolution at their fifth Session in June 2013 inviting the Center of Water Studies and Arab Water Security to cooperate with UNECE for the purpose of convening a workshop to discuss the Water Convention of 1992 in order to clarify its legal obligations as well as to study the potential transferability of successful experiences to the Arab region. The Resolution also invited the Arab Countries to participate in this workshop.
The workshop was held under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture of Tunisia. It was jointly organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Center of Water Studies and Arab Water Security of the League of Arab States and the Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and with the support of France, Switzerland and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN).
Around 40 participants from 13 Arab Countries, international organizations, donors and academia participated and discussed how transboundary cooperation can be fostered in order to improve water resources management between riparian countries, the sustainability of these shared resources and to safeguard water rights.
The Workshop increased awareness and understanding of the different legal frameworks for cooperation on shared waters resources. It provided a platform for discussions on the UNECE Water Convention as a tool for improving the management of shared surface waters and groundwaters in the Arab region and neighboring States and on potential benefits for the Arab countries of acceding to the Water Convention.
Please find below all relevant documents:
Presentations:
- Review of transboundary waters in the Arab region: Pressures and management issues, Carol Chouchani Cherfane
- Complementarity of the two global transboundary water conventions, Nicholas Bonvoisin
- Pourquoi adhérer aux Conventions internationales sur les eaux transfrontalières ?, Fabien Dupuis
- Key Aspects and Opportunities for the Arab Countries, Chahra Ksia
- An overview of the Helsinki Water Convention, Nicholas Bonvoisin
- Application of the Helsinki Water Convention to transboundary groundwaters, Chantal Demilecamps
- Legal Framework For Cooperation On Tranboundary Waters Key Aspects And Opprtunities For The Arab Countries, Djamel Latrech
- Iraq View Water Convention, M.AlSudani
- An Arab Perspective on the Applicability of the Water Convention in the Arab Region, Khaled M. AbuZeid
- How the Helsinki Water Convention promotes transboundary water cooperation on the ground, Chantal Demilecamps
- Cooperation Process for the management of the Drin Basin, Sarra Touzi