International congress on water: the project

Objectives	Results expected	Plenary meetings	Workshops
	Virtual coverage	Events open to the public

from 18 to 20 June 1998
AN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS IN LEBANON
on two subjects :

INTERNATIONAL LAW AND COMPARATIVE LAW ON INTERNATIONAL WATERCOURSES

EDUCATION FOR A CULTURE OF WATER SHARING AND PROTECTION

Under the high patronage of
H.E. Mr Elias HRAOUI, President of the Lebanese Republic

Under the auspices of
UNESCO
and in the presence of its Director-General
Mr Federico MAYOR

the Saint-Esprit de Kaslik University (Lebanon)
and
the University of Law, Economics and Science of Aix-Marseille (France)

I.- OBJECTIVES OF THE CONGRESS

To follow up United Nations recommendations, to meet requests made repeatedly by delegates to international congresses on water, to take press comment into account, to encourage society to call for and/or accept measures for the sustainable management of the protection and sharing of water, this congress has set itself three objectives :

1.- EDUCATION

Study the educational resources required to raise awareness world-wide of the growing shortage of usable water resources.
Promote the study of international and comparative law on water.

2.- INTERNATIONAL LAW AND COMPARATIVE LAW

Highlight the legal principles applicable to international watercourses.
Propose a preparatory document for a Water Convention to UNESCO.

3.- FOLLOW-UP

Promote a congress follow-up strategy, which should, in particular, develop a culture of water sharing, which should contribute to a culture of peace.

II.- RESULTS EXPECTED FROM THE CONGRESS

1.- EDUCATION

AN EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY. Educational projects, university research and teaching, press articles, publicity campaigns and debates are all components of a strategy to educate society for a 'culture of water', education, beginning in the family and in primary school. This strategy is essential for implementing the solutions proposed by the congress.

2.- INTERNATIONAL LAW AND COMPARATIVE LAW

A SITUATION AND PROPOSALS.Appraisal of the current situation in international law and comparative law regarding watercourses. Proposals for university research in these fields.

A DRAFT WATER CONVENTION. On the basis of an analysis of existing legal texts supplied to participants in the congress, a preparatory document will be drawn up with a view to the drafting of a "Water Convention".

3.- FOLLOW-UP

At the end of the congress, the participants will be assigned a "Congress Follow-up" mission ; this implies creative action.

A 'WATER' CO-ORDINATION GROUP. Formation during the congress of a multidisciplinary group of congress participants selected according to the criteria of geographical representativity.

CONSULTATION AND CO-ORDINATION, EXCHANGES, SYNOPSIS The 'Water' Group will establish a skills network using communication technologies. The objective is to facilitate consultation and co-ordination, increase the efficiency of exchanges, develop distance education, joint research activities, etc.

ACHIEVEMENTS. The following activities are scheduled for 1999, under the supervision of the "Water Group":

design by specialists, who may or may not have attended the congress, of an educational guide for teachers ;
dissemination of the proceedings of the congress, composed mainly of papers submitted by specialists who may or may not have attended the congress ;
preparation by each member of the "Water Group" of a regional report on significant changes in attitude observed and proposals by decision-makers in the region for which he or she is responsible.
publication and dissemination of the first annual report, a synopsis of regional reports, on the theme :

"Measures taken. Changes in attitudes towards the use of water resources and in practice. Measures to be taken".

Follow-up action will extend the congress in time and space. All these follow-up activities could be placed under the auspices of an international organisation with university support. They should help to speed up the implementation of regional solutions.

III.- PLENARY MEETINGS

The first four meetings, corresponding to nine papers.
1st meeting : General rules and principles of law on international watercourses
2nd meeting : Education for a culture of water sharing.
3rd meeting : Law on the watercourses of the Mediterranean region - Non-formal education for a culture of water sharing
4rd meeting : Watercourses in Lebanon.

The aim will be to attempt, with regard to legal aspects in particular :

to analyse the present situation, trends, stalemates, conditions for success ;
to compare legislation on international watercourses ;
to define the resources regional and international institutions would need in order to apply and abide by water law, on the basis of sustainable management of a world heritage.

With regard to the educational aspects, the aim will be to outline current trends and underscore the importance of integrating formal and non-formal education on water issues at all levels, while highlighting the role of women and NGOs in non-formal education.

A fiveth plenary meeting will be used to organise the "congress follow-up" by establishing "a co-ordination group", a "skills network" and a strategy based on the operational aspects of the Internet.

IV.- WORKSHOPS

Two workshops will be devoted to a preparatory document on the drafting of a Water Convention.
Other workshops (and/or round tables) could be devoted to themes identified during the congress.

V.- VIRTUAL COVERAGE OF THE CONGRESS

Plans have been made to establish telecommunication links (video conferencing) between the conference centre in Lebanon and one or more sites abroad in order to reach a wider audience.

VI.- EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Within the framework of this congress, an exhibition on water, open to the public: paintings, books, CD-ROMs, cards, photographs, magazines, educational items, films, etc. produced by ministries, television channels, publishers, companies, teachers.
A public lecture on "causes of the depletion of water resources in the world. Urgent measures".

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