2 ESTABLISHING TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT The next part reviews each these instruments, apart from the Transboundary Aquifers Resolution, which is reviewed separately in section 5. 2.2.2. UN Watercourses Convention (1997) The only universal agreement covering the development and management of shared transboundary watercourses is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the NonNavigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997). Adopted by the UN General Assembly, this convention resulted from close to 30 years of study on the topic (by the UN International Law Commission) with inputs from all Member states. The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 21 May 1997 by vote of 104 States for; 3 States against (Burundi, China, and Turkey), and twenty-six abstaining. It requires thirty-five ratifications to enter into force but in November 2011, only 24 parties had ratified it. At present, the Convention remains open for accession and requires an additional 11 Parties to enter into force. Box 2: Parties to the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention Participant
Burkina Faso Côte d’Ivoire Finland France Germany Greece Guinea-Bissau Hungary Iraq Jordan Lebanon Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Luxembourg Morocco Namibia Netherlands Nigeria Norway Paraguay Portugal Qatar South Africa Spain Sweden Syrian Arab Republic Tunisia Uzbekistan Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Yemen
Signature
Ratification
22 Mar 2011 25 Sep 1998 31 Oct 1997 13 Aug 1998
20 Jul 1999 17 Apr 1998
23 Jan 1998 24 Feb 2011 15 Jan 2007 2 Dec 2010 19 May 2010 26 Jan 2000 9 Jul 2001 22 Jun 1999 25 May 1999 14 Jun 2005
14 Oct 1997 19 May 2000 9 Mar 2000 30 Sep 1998 25 Aug 1998 11 Nov 1997 13 Aug 1997
11 Aug 1997 19 May 2000
13 Apr 2011 29 Aug 2001 9 Jan 2001 27 Sep 2010 30 Sep 1998 22 Jun 2005 28 Feb 2002 26 Oct 1998 24 Sep 2009 15 Jun 2000 2 Apr 1998 22 Apr 2009 4 Sep 2007
22 Sep 1997 17 May 2000
Source: UN Treaty series THE HANDBOOK FOR INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN TRANSBOUNDARY BASINS OF RIVERS, LAKES AND AQUIFERS
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