entry into force of the un watercourses convention: why should we care?
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Entry into force of the UN Watercourses Convention: why should we care? by Flavia Rocha Loures, Senior Program Officer, WWFTRANSCRIPT
XIV IWRA World Water Congress
Porto de Galinhas, 25-29 September 2011
Entry into force of the UN Watercourses Convention:
Why should we care?
Flavia Rocha Loures
2. The UN Watercourses Convention
Background
Importance
The UN Watercourses Convention: Goals, objectives and content
“Ensure the utilisation, development,
conservation, management and protection of
international watercourses and the promotion of
the optimal and sustainable utilisation thereof for
present and future generations;” whilst “taking
into account the special situation and needs of
developing countries.” (Preamble)
Transboundary Water Resources: A Case for Multi-level Legal Governance
UN Watercourses Convention; ILC Draft Articles
Cooperation in border areas between local communities
Global
Regional
Basin
Sub-basin
SADC Protocol, Water Framework Directive, UNECE Water Convention
Amazon Treaty
National
Sub-national/local
National laws incorporating concerns with transboundary waters
Agreements on the Mekong, Congo
The UN Watercourses Convention: Legal Objective
Codification of customary law
Clarification of customary law
Framework for the development of customary law
Non-ratification & non-entry into force:
Legal Effects
The UN Watercourses Convention: Functions
A common denominator for
• Inspiring future watercourse agreements (new or revised)
• Supporting existing agreements
The UN Watercourses Convention: Functions
In the absence of applicable watercourse agreements:
• A firm common ground governing or guiding interstate relations
• A mandate for interstate dialogue
The UN Watercourses Convention: Functions
A mother convention for the development of global treaty law on emerging issues
A foundation for international water cooperation in support of other multilateral environmental agreements
A stronger “soft-law” instrument with effects on non-parties
Consolidation of additional provisions as customary law
The UN Watercourses Convention: Effects on non-parties
Thank you!
Slide 22
http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/policy/conventions/water_conventions/
Flavia Rocha Loures [email protected]