The Economic Affairs Officer of ECLAC, Dr. Silvia Saravia Matus, welcomed and contextualized the ROSA Project. Then he briefly reviewed the content seen in the latest training sessions to give rise to the session and its agenda. The welcome concluded by introducing the guests who spoke: Ms. Chantal Demilecamps and Ms. Lucia de Strasser, from the Secretariat of the United Nations Water Convention (at the UN/ECE); Ms. Yarid Guevara, from the Ministry of the Environment of Panama and Ms. Cecilia Atherton Revillard, from the Permanent Mission of Panama to the UN; and Mr. David Rada, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
Ms. Chantal Demilecamps began the session by speaking about the principles and contents of the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) of Helsinki – 1992; and the UN Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses – 1997. Likewise, it highlighted several aspects of International Law on transboundary international waters.
Ms. Lucia de Strasser followed to present the history and current status of the Water Convention at the global level and in LAC. In addition, he added the advantages and obligations for the Parties, how the Water Convention works (work program and tools), and the Convention’s working groups and the various topics they address. On the other hand, he highlighted the impact and achievements of the Convention in the last 30 years.
Ms. Yarid Guevara and Cecilia Atherton Revillard spoke about Panama’s experience of being the first country in the Latin American and Caribbean region to adhere to the Water Convention. They specifically commented on the different stages of the accession process, as well as the advantages of its implementation to strengthen international cooperation efforts on shared waters.
On behalf of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Mr. David Rada participated, who highlighted the relevance of the issue in the national context, indicating that the country shares a large part of its bodies of water with neighboring countries. He also presented his progress in terms of cooperation mechanisms.
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