United Nations Water Convention

The United Nations Water Convention was adopted in Helsinki, Finland in 1992 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
It came into force in 1996.
The main purpose of this convention is to promote cooperation among countries that share transboundary watercourses (rivers, lakes, and groundwater that cross or lie along international borders).

Key Principles of the Convention

Equitable and Reasonable Use: Countries must use shared water resources in a way that is fair and reasonable, considering factors like geography, climate, population needs, and existing water uses.
No Significant Harm: Countries must ensure their use of water does not cause significant harm to other countries sharing the resource.
Sustainable Management: Water must be managed to ensure long-term availability and ecosystem health.
Cooperation and Information Exchange: Parties are required to share information, notify others about projects that might affect shared water, and consult each other.
Joint Monitoring and Data Sharing: Regular monitoring and sharing of data on water quantity and quality is encouraged.
Conflict Prevention: The Convention promotes peaceful settlement of disputes related to transboundary waters.

Initially designed for countries in the UNECE region (Europe, parts of Asia, and North America), the Convention has been opened for universal accession since 2016, meaning any country worldwide can join.
As of now, many European countries, some Asian countries, and a few from other regions are parties.
Notably, India has not joined this Convention yet, though it manages several transboundary rivers with neighbouring countries through bilateral treaties.

UN Watercourses Convention (1997): A broader UN treaty covering all aspects of the law related to the use of international rivers and lakes beyond navigation. It emphasizes cooperation, equitable use, and protection of international watercourses.
Indus Waters Treaty (1960): A bilateral treaty between India and Pakistan that allocates the use of the Indus River system. This treaty is considered a successful example of conflict resolution over shared water resources and aligns with principles of equitable use and cooperation.
Other Treaties: There are many regional and bilateral water treaties globally, reflecting the importance of water cooperation.

Climate Change Impact: Changing rainfall patterns and melting glaciers impact water availability, making cooperation over shared water even more critical.
Increasing Water Scarcity: Growing populations and industrialization increase water demand, risking conflicts without cooperative frameworks.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) promotes international cooperation for water resources, which the Convention supports.
Peace and Security: Water-sharing agreements and conventions reduce the risk of water-related conflicts and promote regional stability.

South Asia is home to several major transboundary rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, and Meghna, shared by India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China.
Existing agreements (like Indus Waters Treaty and some with Bangladesh) cover parts of these rivers but comprehensive multilateral cooperation is limited.
Joining international frameworks like the UN Water Convention could help India strengthen water diplomacy and promote integrated water resource management.

The accession of countries like Ivory Coast highlights growing global interest in formal cooperation mechanisms for shared waters.
The Convention is evolving to address modern water challenges such as pollution control, ecosystem protection, and climate resilience.