5th World Water Forum prepares its launch

Building on the success of the 4th World Water Forum held in Mexico City three years ago, Istanbul will host the 5th World Water Forum from 15 to 22 March 2009. Known to be the most important event on water in the world, World Water Forum 2009 organizers expect an attendance of over 15,000 people from 150 countries to discuss the strategies and solutions regarding water in the world. Turkey is known for its rich history in water resources, culture and technology and strategic tri-partite cooperation between the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

In preparation for the World Water Forum, a presentation on the Istanbul Water Consensus will be held in Singapore from 3 to 4 July 2008 in Macedonia during the World Cities Summit to plan the themes and topics under discussion in the World Water Forum.

Green Cross has long been involved in transboundary water issues and an active participant in World Water Forums since inception. At the 2nd World Water Forum in The Hague in March 2000, GC introduced the “International Transboundary watercourses and National Sovereignty” report which recommends the coming into force of the Convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses (also known as the UN Water Convention). More importantly, the report provided a framework for an integrated, sustainable, cooperative and participative use of transboundary watercourses as outlined in the Green Cross Right to Water Campaign. The aim of the Right to Water campaign promotes the ratification of the UN Water Convention by countries around the world with the objective of gathering the required number of signatories for the convention to enter into force.

In 2002, Green Cross, the International Secretariat for Water and the Maghreb-Machreq Alliance for Water officially launched a campaign calling for the adoption of a Framework Convention on the Right to Water. Since then, Green Cross International advocates, through its worldwide network, a global, integrated, sustainable water governance.

In the same way that transboundary watercourses defy political boundaries, so too does the water crisis. This evokes a need for integrated, cooperative solutions, particularly in the 263 river basins shared by two or more states. The shared nature of these basins could lead to tension and conflict.

For more information on the 5th World Water Forum, please consult the World Water Forum website.

For further information on the Right to Water campaign, please click here.