The UNECE/WHO-EURO Protocol on Water and Health: where health, environment and development policies meet Francesca Bernardini UNECE The Protocol on Water and Health: making a difference.
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Transcript The UNECE/WHO-EURO Protocol on Water and Health: where health, environment and development policies meet Francesca Bernardini UNECE The Protocol on Water and Health: making a difference.
The UNECE/WHO-EURO
Protocol on Water and Health:
where health, environment
and development policies meet
Francesca Bernardini
UNECE
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
1
Why a treaty to manage water resources
and prevent water-related diseases ?
In the European Region, poor-quality drinking-water causes over 13 000
deaths from diarrhoea among children aged 0–14 years (5.3% of all deaths
in this age group) each year
140 million (16%) do not have a household connection to a drinking-water
supply, 85 million (10%) do not have improved sanitation; the situation had
not improved in the past 15 years
In central and eastern Europe water is safe only in 30—40% of households.
Emerging threats: protozoan infestations of drinking-water supply systems,
proliferation of Legionella, and potential health problems related to the
increasingly complex chemical environment
Overuse, pollution, extreme weather events affect water resources
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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The Protocol on Water and Health
The world’s only legal treaty designed
to reduce water-related deaths and
diseases through improved water
management
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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Aim: Protect human health and well being by better
management of water resources
Health
outcome
Drinking
water
quality
Legal
framework
Environmental
quality
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
Environmental
Management
Health
Outcomes
Effective protection of water related
ecosystems and sustainable use of
water resources
Provision of adequate supplies of
wholesome drinking water
Prevention, control and reduction of
water-related diseases
Detection, contingency planning and
response to outbreaks
4
Objectives
(a) Access to drinking water for everyone and
(b) Provision of sanitation for everyone
=> Focus on sustainable development and MDGs,
beyond MDG 7, target 10
=> framework for implementing the human
right to water and poverty reduction
=> focus on governance, integration of policies and
on cooperation
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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Status of ratification
Adopted in
1999 by 36
countries
Entered into
force in 2005
Signatories
Parties
Currently
ratified by 24
countries
Towards
accession
.
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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Scope
@ MED action plan
@ WHO central photo library
Costal and
estuarine
waters
Surface
waters
Water
during
abstraction,
transport,
treatment
and supply
@ UNEP photo collection
Wastewater
collection,
transport,
treatment,
discharge,
reuse
@ WHO EURO photo collection
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making a difference
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How: the Protocol’s pillars
Setting targets and
assessing progress
Surveillance and
response
PROTOCOL
Compliance
procedure
Mutual assistance
AHPFM
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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Art 6 and 7:
Targets, measures, review of progress
ESTABLISH
TARGETS
Within 2 years
of becoming
a Party, each
Party shall set
targets and
target dates
Water supply
and sanitation
Water
management
Health
protection
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
REVIEW
PROGRESS
MEASURES
National
coordination
mechanism
Collect and
evaluate data
Water
management
plans
Investments
Publish
results
Review
progress
Monitoring
Enforcement
Capacity
building
Submit
summary
report
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Progressive and continuous action
Review of
progress
Set targets
and target dates
Programme of
measures
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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Surveillance and response
Public
information
of threat
Public
authorities
notified
Responsive
Health
Systems
Water-related
outbreaks or
threats
identified
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
Capacity
strengthened
to implement
contingency
plans
Preventive
and remedial
actions
Contingency
plans timely
prepared
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Assistance tools
Compliance
Committee
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
Project Facilitation
Mechanism
12
Public awareness, education and public participation
Parties shall
Ensure public participation in decision making (target setting)
Take steps to enhance public awareness
Promote common understanding between sectors
Encourage education and training
Ensure that information is available to the public
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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How does the Protocol function?
Meeting of the
Parties (MOP)
Compliance
Committee
Bureau
Ad Hoc Project
Facilitation
Mechanism
Working Group on Water and Health
Joint Secretariat WHO – UNECE
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
Task Force
Surveillance
Task Force on
Indicators and
Reporting
Task Force on
Extreme Weather
Events
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In practice… technical guidance
From the what to the how for a common approach in the region
Theoretical and technical framework for compliance with main
obligations
Guidelines on setting targets, evaluation of progress and reporting;
technical and policy guidance on surveillance
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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In practice… emerging(ed) issues
Small scale water supplies
Water supply and sanitation in extreme weather events
Equitable access to water / implementation of the human right to water
and sanitation
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making a difference
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In practice… capacity building
On different aspects of the Protocol’s implementation
Focus on South-Eastern Europe and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and
Central Asia
Supported by other activities and feeds back to work under the Protocol
The Protocol on Water and Health:
making a difference
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In practice… country projects
Two ongoing in Moldova and in Ukraine
Requests for others
Link to activities carried out within the National Policy Dialogues on
IWRM under the EU Water Initiative
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making a difference
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Main advantages
Legally binding => ensures long-term commitment and forms a basis for
improved regulatory environment
Designed to support continuous progress with pace and objectives tailored to
countries’ priorities and capacities
Programme of work supports implementation and harmonization in the region
as well as a framework for dealing with emerging issues
Offers a structured environment for government, NGOs and business to
develop long-term cooperation at national and international level
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making a difference
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Where do we stand in the rest of the region
Results of the first reporting exercise
Recognition of the importance of the Protocol is increasing,
implementation is progressing
Setting targets is a challenge for countries as it confronts governance
inadequacies
Problems of access to water and sanitation in rural areas
Not only access: quality aspects, hygiene, performance
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making a difference
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Challenges
Difficulty of the problems => complexity of the solution
Integration: the beauty of the Protocol and its curse
Win inertia of traditional/sectoral approach=> Still weak recognition of
the linkages between environment and public health
Difficulties in getting high political attention
Financial implications vs underfunding of the water sector
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making a difference
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Status in Eastern Europe
Country
Ratification
Targets
Belarus
22 April 2009
Under development
Republic of Moldova
10 March 2000
Set and adopted
Russian Federation
31 December 1999
?
Ukraine
26 September 2003
Set
Adopted?
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making a difference
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