19 November 2013: On the occasion of World Toilet Day, the Permanent Mission of Spain to the UN and the Office of the Water for Life Decade launched a ‘Monograph on Water Cooperation,’ which was produced in collaboration with the World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE) and Aquae Foundation and summarizes UN contributions and key experiences on water cooperation.

The monograph discusses, inter alia: the importance of water cooperation; regional and global cooperation; challenges for water, energy and waste cooperation; the human right to water and sanitation for all without discrimination; the need to address cooperation issues on a regular basis; the role of the WCCE; the Albufeira Convention between Spain and Portugal for the sustainable utilization of shared basins; a fund for cooperation in water and sanitation; the role of water companies in development cooperation; and the transfer of knowledge.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation (IYWC), recognizing the importance of the peaceful and sustainable management and use of water resources. A main objective of the IYWC has been to form partnerships and initiatives on water cooperation that will help maintain peace and security among nations, communities and stakeholders, while ensuring the fair and equitable distribution of water resources for society and the environment. Another key component is for all stakeholders to recognize the current challenges and stresses upon globally shared water resources so that a constructive and realistic dialogue can take place to address these challenges. [Publication: Monograph on Water Cooperation] [Water for Life Decade Website]