Workshop on Water and Health
WECF and network members participated on the “Workshop on water and health”, held on 14 - 16 May, 2008 in Bucharest, Romania.
31.05.2008 | Margriet Samwel
| Previous | Next |
This workshop, organized in collaboration with the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) component of the European Union Water Initiative (EUWI), was held under the auspices of the UNECE Water Convention and its Protocol on Water and Health within the framework of the Project Capacity for Water Cooperation (CWC) in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The workshop will also be a UNDP annual Water Community of Practice (CoP) meeting.
The event was jointly organised by UNECE, UNDP and OSCE - as part of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) - in cooperation with WHO-EURO. The European Commission supported the workshop organization as part of the EUWI - EECCA component. The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Romania kindly hosts and co-organizes the workshop.
The main focus was on the relationship between water and health the workshop and dealt in particular with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, prevention, control and reduction of water-related diseases, sustainable management and protection of water resources, integrated sectors policy development and reform, as well as social and equity aspects related to the right to water. The workshop allowed decision-makers and experts from EECCA countries, from the environment, water management, health, and infrastructure sectors, to exchange experience on national strategies designed to facilitate and integrate such components, as well as challenges related to their implementation.
WECF and WECF network members from Bulgaria, Moldova und Ukraine attended the meeting and contributed to the workshop with presentations:
Diana Iskreva, EfE, Bulgaria: Compliance
procedure under the Protocol on Water and Health,
Tatiana Siniaeva, Ecotiras, Moldova: Monitoring of the
Dniester river: cooperation between the water and health sectors and
non-governmental organizations,
Margriet Samwel, WECF, the Netherlands: Water safety Plans in schools
Anna Tsvietkova, Mama 86, Ukraine: Protocol on Water and Health: added value and challenges for public participation
More information about the workshop can be found on the Unece website
Between 12 and 16 of May 2008 WECF joined 2 meetings in Bucharest, Romania. The first meeting was of the EU Water Initiative’s EECCA Working Group and the OECD EAP task Force’s Group of Senior Officials for Water Sector Reform in EECCA. The second one was focussed on the Protocol of Water of Health. The workshop addressed issues related to access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation; prevention, control and reduction of water-related diseases; sustainable management and protection of water resources. Decision-makers and experts from EECCA countries, from the environment, water and health sectors exchanged experiences on national strategies designed to integrate such components and challenges related to their implementation.
The workshop gathered decision-makers
from public administration representing water, environmental, and public health
institutions, as well as representatives of international organizations, NGOs
and the private sector.
One of the main objectives was to make possible exchange of countries’ experiences
on different aspects related to implementation of national policies on water
and heath and to promote the ratification and implementation of the Protocol on
Water and Health in the EECCA region and in particular contribute to the process
of development and implementation Protocol’s targets at the national level and
the setting up of surveillance systems for water-related diseases.
The event was organised by UNECE, UNDP and OSCE in cooperation with WHO. The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development in Romania kindly co-organized the workshop.
Related News
 |
Human Rights: WECF Contributing to the Public Consultation of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation |
 |
Could Playing and Swimming in the Pool Be More Than Just Fun and a Good Exercise for Pregnant Women and Young Children? |
 |
The Governor of Issyk Kul Oblast Welcomed the “Home Comforts” Project |
 |
WECF and Eco-Accord Report of the 7th ‘Environment for Europe’ Ministerial Conference, 2011, Astana |
 |
The Turning Wheel - An Educational Cycle Expedition About Simple Technologies for Sustainable Living |
"If women and men from different countries work together in respect and mutual understanding, we can eliminate poverty and protect our planet and its resources for the next generations to come." 
