UNESCO

International Hydrological Programme

Transboundary WaterManagement

Christine A. Iskandar

Consultant UNESCO-IHP

UNESCO contribution to theWorld Water Forum

onCooperation around Water Conflicts

UNESCO is a partner of the Forum since Marrakechand the World Water Council (WWC)

Since the 3rd World Water Forum in 2003, UNESCOhas been designated as the leader of the themes ontransboundary water management (Istanbul Forum),water cooperation and peace building.

At the 6th World Water Forum, UNESCO with INBOcoordinates the Priority for Action 1.5 « contribute tocooperation and peace »

The Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO declares that ‘since wars begin in the mindsof men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed’

CULTURE OF PEACEThe opening lines of UNESCO'sConstitution are engraved in ten languageson a stone wall in the Square of Tolerance

The purpose of the Organizationis: "to contribute to peace andsecurity by promotingcollaboration among nationsthrough education, science andculture in order to furtheruniversal respect for justice, forthe rule of law and for thehuman rights and fundamentalfreedoms which are affirmed forthe peoples of the world,without distinction of race, sex,language or religion, by theCharter of the United Nations’.

The challenge we all haveHow to put “water” in the minds

of people?

International HydrologicalProgramme

Intergovernmental programme

The World Water Assessmentprogramme

Inter agency programme lead byUNESCO

UNESCO-IHE Institute forWater Education

17CategoryII waterrelatedcentres

ISARM

The Water Family at UNESCO

In 2000, the worldwide ISARM (Internationally SharedAquifer Resources Management) Initiative aimed atimproving the understanding of scientific, socio-economic, legal, institutional and environmentalissues related to the management of transboundaryaquifers.

UNESCO-IHP Initiative onTransboundary Aquifers (ISARM)

UN GA Resolution 63/124 2008

In this context, UNESCO supported the development ofthe UNILC Draft Articles on the Law of TransboundaryAquifers. In December 2008, the UN General Assembly (GA)

adopted Resolution A/RES/63/124 on the law oftransboundary aquifers. In this Resolution, the UN GA notes that ‘the subject ofthe law of transboundary aquifers is of majorimportance in the relations of States’. The UN GA will consider the Format of the Draft

Articles at its next session in November this year.

ISARM OBJECTIVES

Prepare the inventory of the transboundary aquifers ofthe world (Transboundary Aquifers Atlas published in2009). Promote the cooperation among experts from the

different countries that share transboundary aquifers. Promote scientific, legal, socio-economic, institutional

and environmental assessment of internationallyshared aquifer resources. Disseminate the lessons learnt from Case Studies.

Until 2000 there was no globalaccurate and reliable information and knowledge on

Transboundary AquifersExceptionEuropeUNECE

2.Kupa

3.Kupa

4.Una

5.Cetina

6.Neretva

7.Sava1.Dragonja

30.Pelagonija& 31.Florina

Gevgelija32.

Sandansky34.

9.Backa&Banat

10. Srem.

12.SW Serbia

11.West Serbia

13.

20.Central Serbia

14.

29.

16. Gaber-Nesla17. Znepole18.Tran

15.Zemen

Dojran.33 35.Gotze

Delchev36.Orvilos

37.Nastan38.Smolyan39.Rudozem40.ErmaReka

46.Rezovska

45.Malko Tarnovo

41.Svilengrad42.Orestiada

43.Svilengrad44.Topolograd

25.Vjosa

26.Pagoni27.Mourgana

28.

19.East Serbia

8

47.Meric

MiddleSarmatian-PontianGWB .22

23.Sarmatian&24.Upper Jurassic-LowerCret.GWB

21.UpperPannonian-Lower Pleistocene

2.Kupa

3.Kupa

4.Una

5.Cetina

6.Neretva

7.Sava1.Dragonja

30.Pelagonija& 31.Florina

Gevgelija32.

Sandansky34.

9.Backa&Banat

10. Srem.

12.SW Serbia

11.West Serbia

13.

20.Central Serbia

14.

29.

16. Gaber-Nesla17. Znepole18.Tran

15.Zemen

Dojran.33 35.Gotze

Delchev36.Orvilos

37.Nastan38.Smolyan39.Rudozem40.ErmaReka

46.Rezovska

45.Malko Tarnovo

41.Svilengrad42.Orestiada

43.Svilengrad44.Topolograd

25.Vjosa

26.Pagoni27.Mourgana

28.

19.East Serbia

8

47.Meric

MiddleSarmatian-PontianGWB .22

23.Sarmatian&24.Upper Jurassic-LowerCret.GWB

21.UpperPannonian-Lower Pleistocene

From Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential

(UNESCO-PCCP)

Mission statement: To facilitate multi-level andinterdisciplinary dialogues in order to foster peace anddevelopment related to the management of shared waterresourcesThe project focuses on the development of tools (including legaltools) for the anticipation, prevention and resolution of waterconflicts. Through research and capacity building activities, theprogramme brings players engaged in transboundary watermanagement together and helps increase the opportunitiesfor cooperation and development.

UNESCO and GEFGroundwater Governance Project

Overall objective:Global Framework of action (Fa) for the Groundwater at

local, national, regional and transboundary levels.

Main line of action:Promoting the national role of countries by the

regional consultations based on their experiences,needs and visions.

In partnership with GEF, FAO, IAH and WB

How could UNESCO-IHP contribute toa «Water Legislation Helpdesk»?

UNESCO-IHP could contribute by:1. Using UNESCO’s network to disseminate the work of

the Helpdesk through the countries.2. Using UNESCO–ISARM and/or PCCP legal research

results and educational tools to build a commonconsensus in the Helpdesk vis-à-vis the countries’needs.

Member States UNESCO-IHP Helpdesk

ISARM / PCCP

Merci de votre attention

c.abdalla-iskandar@unesco.org