The first Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 17-19 January 2007, and was jointly organized by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe.

More than 140 participants from the pan-European region and from some African countries gathered for the event, including representatives of countries (Parties and non-Parties), international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. At the meeting, parties adopted an institutional structure and a roadmap to make the Protocol operational and reaffirmed their commitment to the Protocol’s goal of providing access to safe water and adequate sanitation to all. A “Roundtable on the human right to water and the Protocol on Water and Health: making access to water a reality” during the meeting highlighted that the Protocol is at the forefront in the implementation of the human right to water. Among the decisions adopted during the meeting were the rules of procedure as well as decisions addressing financial arrangements, focal points, mainstreaming the work of the Protocol in the decision-making of WHO, and terms of reference of bodies established under the Meeting of the Parties. The meeting adopted a compliance procedure, elected the Compliance Committee, established a mechanism for international support for national action, and exchanged information on their progress in setting targets and target dates according to the Protocol. Delegates also set up two Task Forces on indicators and reporting, and on surveillance.
Link to further information
MOP-1 website