INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FRESHWATER

+ International Conference on Freshwater [ L I N K  http://www.water-2001.de ]

'With all its associated values, water resources and water service delivery should be kept out of international agreements on trade. Access to adequate water, notably for those living in poverty, cannot be jeopardized,' comments an NGO representative the outcome of the Bonn Freshwater conference.

The International Conference on Freshwater took place in Bonn from 3-7 December 2001, hosted by the German government in close co-operation with the United Nations. The conference served as a preparatory step on freshwater issues for the upcoming WSSD in Johannesburg in 2002. The main objective of the Conference was to develop recommendations for the Summit on water and sustainable development issues. Building on the progress achieved in the implementation of Chapter 18 (Agenda 21), the Conference intended to identify remaining obstacles and define necessary actions.

The Conference further aimed to contribute to the fulfilment of the water related International Development Target. The United Nations Millennium Summit of September 2000 declared in its Millennium Declaration:

"We resolve (…) to halve, by the year 2015, (…) the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water." The United Nations Millennium Assembly further declared: "…to stop the unsustainable exploitation of water resources by developing water management strategies at the regional, national and local levels, which promote both equitable access and adequate supplies." A key consideration will be how to combat negative effects of the water crisis on people's livelihood. Emphasis is put on recommendations which show the way forward to implementation and necessary actions to overcome the water crisis.

The Conference aimed at action oriented re-commendations regarding political and forward-looking measures to improve and facilitate implementation of agreed goals and programmes in the water-related fields of sustainable development. The conference outcome will be available for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg 2002 in its consideration of water-related issues of sustainable development.