The Parties to this Protocol,
Mindful that water is essential to sustain life and that the availability of water
in quantities, and of a quality, sufficient to meet basic human needs is a prerequisite
both for improved health and for sustainable development,
Acknowledging the benefits to human health and well-being that accrue from wholesome
and clean water and a harmonious and properly functioning water environment,
Aware that surface waters and groundwater are renewable resources with a limited capacity
to recover from adverse impacts from human activities on their quantity and quality,
that any failure to respect those limits may result in adverse effects, in both the
short and long terms, on the health and well-being of those who rely on those resources
and their quality, and that in consequence sustainable management of the hydrological
cycle is essential for both meeting human needs and protecting the environment,
Aware also of the consequences for public health of shortfalls of water in the quantities,
and of the quality, sufficient to meet basic human needs, and of the serious effects
of such shortfalls, in particular on the vulnerable, the disadvantaged and the socially
excluded,
Conscious that the prevention, control and reduction of water-related disease are
important and urgent tasks which can only be satisfactorily discharged by enhanced
cooperation at all levels and among all sectors, both within countries and between
States,
Conscious also that surveillance of water-related disease and the establishment of
early-warning systems and response systems are important aspects of the prevention,
control and reduction of water-related disease,
Basing themselves upon the conclusions of the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), in particular the Rio Declaration on Environment
and Development and Agenda 21, as well as upon the programme for the further implementa-tion
of Agenda 21 (New York, 1997) and the consequent decision of the Commission on Sustainable
Development on the sustainable management of freshwater (New York, 1998),
Deriving inspiration from the relevant provisions of the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International
Lakes and emphasizing the need both to encourage more widespread application of those provisions
and to complement that Convention with further measures to strengthen the protection
of public health,
Taking note of the 1991 Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the 1992 Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, the 1997 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International
Watercourses and the 1998 Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making
and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters,
Further taking note of the pertinent principles, targets and recommendations of the
1989 European Charter on Environment and Health, the 1994 Helsinki Declaration on
Environment and Health, and the Ministerial declarations, recommendations and resolutions
of the “Environment for Europe” process,
Recognizing the sound basis and relevance of other environmental initiatives, instruments
and processes in Europe, as well as the preparation and implementation of National
Environment and Health Action Plans and of National Environment Action Plans,
Commending the efforts already undertaken by the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe and the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization to
strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation for the prevention, control and
reduction of water-related disease,
Encouraged by the many examples of positive achievements by the States members of
the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the States members of the Regional
Committee for Europe of the World Health Organization in abating pollution and in
maintaining and restoring water environments capable of supporting human health and
well-being,
