7 February 2013
UNECE Water Convention Becomes Global
story highlights

An amendment to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) entered into force on 6 February 2013 after receiving the necessary number of ratifications making the Convention open to accession by all UN member states.

UNECE6 February 2013: An amendment to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) entered into force on 6 February 2013, after receiving the necessary number of ratifications, making the Convention open to accession by all UN member States.

Currently 30 non-UNECE countries are already engaged in activities under the UNECE Water Convention and several have indicated their intention to accede to the Convention, including Iraq. UNECE Water Convention parties had identified globalization of the Convention as a strategic priority, in particular to expand the ability to share experiences and exchange information, as well as to increase transboundary water cooperation.

On the entry into force of the globalization amendment, Sven Alkalaj, UNECE Executive Secretary, emphasized that the UNECE Water Convention provides a legal and intergovernmental platform to address the increasing demand and dwindling availability of water resources, particularly in transboundary basins. [UNECE Press Release]