Knowledge Base on International and National Water Laws
International Water Law
National Water Law of Central Asian Countries
Documents of National and International Water Law
ICWC’s Activities in the Field of Water Law

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Section 3: Documents of National and International Water Law


  General and regional instruments






Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (New York, 1997)

Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Helsinki, 1992)

Amendment to the Convention Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (2003)

Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (London, 1999)

Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Helsinki, 1992)

Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Kiev, 2003)

Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage Caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and to the 1992 Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Kiev, 2003)

Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus, 1998)

Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo, 1991)

The Helsinki Rules on the Uses of Waters of International Rivers (Helsinki, 1966)

Berlin Rules on Water Resources (Berlin, 2004)

Convention and Statute on the Regime of Navigable Waterways of International Concern (Barcelona, 1921)

Convention relating to the Development of Hydraulic Power affecting more than one State and Protocol of Signature (Geneva, 1923)

Dublin Statement On Water And Sustainable Development (1992)

The Seoul Rules on International Groundwaters (1986)

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969)

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar, 1971)



Indus Water Treaty (1960)

Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin (1995)

Mekong Agreement and Procedural Rules (1995)

Frontier Agreement between Afghanistan and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1946)

Treaty between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Royal Government of Afghanistan concerning the Regime of the Soviet-Afghan State Frontier (1958)

Protocol between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Afghanistan on the Joint Execution of Works for the Integrated Utilization of the Water Resources in the Frontier Section of the Amudarya (1958)

Agreement Between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the People's Republic of China on Joint Research Operations to Determine the Natural Resources of the Amur River Basin and the Prospects for Development of its Productive Potentialities and on Planning and Survey Operations to Prepare A Scheme for the Multi-purpose Exploitation of the Argun River and the Upper Amur River (1956)

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation in the Use and Protection of Transboundary Rivers (2001)

Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Mongolia on the Protection and Utilization of Transboundary Waters (1994)

Treaty Between the government of the Republic of India and the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on Sharing of the Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka (1996)

Treaty between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Imperial Government of Iran concerning the regime of the Soviet-Iranian frontier and the procedure for the settlement of frontier disputes and incidents (1957)

Terms of reference of the Helmand River Delta commission and a interpretive statement relative thereto, agreed by Conferees of Afghanistan and Iran (1950)

Water Annex to Model Israel-Palestinian Peace Agreement

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on Cooperation in the Field of Environment (1995)

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of Turkmenistan on Cooperation in the Field of Environment (1996)



Convention on the Protection of the Rhine (1998)

Convention between Germany and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and the European Economic Community on the International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe (1990)

Protocol to the Convention of 8 October 1990 between Germany and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and EEC on the International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe (1991)

Agreement on the Protection of the River Meuse (1994)

Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the River Danube (1994)

Danube Declaration: Danube Basin: Shared Waters – Joint Responsibilities (2010)

Convention regarding the regime of navigation on the Danube (1948)

Agreement on the Protection of the River Scheldt (1994)

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and the of the Council establishing a framework for Community Action in the Field of Water Policy (2000)

Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Latvia on cooperation in the field of use and protection of water resources in the Zapadnaya Dvina/Daugava River Basin (2003)

Framework Agreement on the Sava River basin (2002)

Agreement between the Government of the Estonian Republic and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in protection and sustainable use of transboundary waters (1997)

Agreement between the Peoples Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Turkey Concerning Co-operation in the Use of the Waters of Rivers Flowing Through the Territory of Both Countries (Maritsa/Marica, Tundzha, Veleka, Rezovska Rivers) (1968)

Agreement between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Concerning the Use of Water Resources in Frontier Waters (1965)

Agreement between the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic and the Government of the Polish People's Concerning the Use of the Water Resources in Frontier Waters (1958)

Treaty between the Hungarian People's Republic and the Republic of Austria Concerning the Regulation of Water Economy Questions in the Frontier Region (1956)

Agreement between Finland and Sweden Concerning Frontier Waters (1971)

Treaty Between the Czech Republic Government and the Slovak Republic Government on Mutual Relations and Principles of Cooperation in Agriculture, Food Industry, Forestry, and Water Economy Under the Conditions of the Customs Union (1992)

Convention between Italy and Switzerland concerning the regulation of Lake Lugano (1955)

Memorandum of understanding for scientific and technical cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Italy in the field of water resources (1968)

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of Portugal in regard to the first phase of development of the water resources of the Kunene River Basin (1969)

Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia for the protection and sustainable development of lake Ohrid and its watershed (2004)

Agreement on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Waters of the Spanish-Portuguese Hydrographic Basins (1998)




  Guidelines on Water Related Issues


River basin commissions and other institutions for transboundary water cooperation (UNECE)

International Regulation on River Navigation (Heidelberg, 1887)

International Regulation regarding the Use of International Watercourses for Purposes other than Navigation (Madrid, 1911)

Regulation governing Navigation on International Rivers (Paris, 1934)

Resolution on the Use of International Non-Maritime Waters (Salzburg, 1961)

Resolution on the Pollution of Rivers and Lakes and International Law (Athens, 1979)

Declaration of Policy on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, including Transboundary Pollution (Geneva, 1980)

Decision on International Co-operation on Shared Water Resources (Geneva, 1982)

Decision on International Co-operation on Shared Water Resources (Geneva, 1986)

Code of Conduct on Accidental Pollution of Transboundary Inland Waters (New York, 1990)

Proposals of Panel of Experts on the Legal and Institutional Aspects of International Water Resources Development (New York, 1969)

Declarations of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment [extracts] (Stockholm, 1972)

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3129 (XXVIII) on Co-operation in the field of the Environment concerning Natural Resources Shared by Two or More States (New York, 1973)

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 33/87 on Co-operation in the field of the Environment concerning Natural Resources Shared by Two or More States (New York, 1978)

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 34/186 on Co-operation in the field of the Environment concerning Natural Resources Shared by Two or More States (New York, 1979)

Declarations and Resolutions of the United Nations Water Conference (Mar del Plata, 1977)

The rights to water (arts. 11 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)

Treaty Handbook (UN)

Transboundary Water Cooperation in the Newly Independent States (UNECE)

Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements and Other Arrangements in Europe and North America on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Waters (UNECE)


  Binding and non-binding instruments in Central Asia region


Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Syrdarya Basin (1998)

Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Joint and Complex Use Water and Energy Resources of the Naryn Syr Darya Cascade Reservoirs in 1998

Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on Comprehensive Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Naryn Syr Darya Cascade Reservoirs in 1999

Protocol of Experts Meeting to draft Agreement Between the Governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Comprehensive Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Naryn Syr Darya Cascade Reservoirs in 1999

Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on Comprehensive Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Naryn Syr Darya Cascade Reservoirs in 2000

Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on Comprehensive Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Naryn Syr Darya Cascade Reservoirs in 2000

Protocol of Experts Meeeting to draft Agreement Between the Governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Comprehensive Use of Water and Energy Resources of the Naryn Syr Darya Cascade Reservoirs in 2001

Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the Area of Rational Water and Energy Uses (1998)

Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on Cooperation in the Area of Rational Water and Energy Uses in 1999

Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on Cooperation in the Area of Rational Water and Energy Uses in 2000

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the Area of Environment and Rational Nature Use (1998)

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazahstan, the Government of the Kirgiz Republic, the Government of the Republic of Tadjikistan and the Government the Republic of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the Sphere of Hydromet (1999)

Agreement between the Governments of the Republics of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Parallel Operation of the Energy Systems of Central Asia (1999)

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Use of Water Management Facilities of Intergovernmental Status on the Rivers Chu and Talas (2000)

The Regulation of IFAS

The Agreement about the status of IFAS and its organizations (1997)

Statement of heads of water economy organizations of Central Asian Republics and Kazakhstan (1991)

Agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan , the Republic of Kirgyzstan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on Cooperation in the Field of Joint Water Resources Management and Conservation of Interstate Sources (1992)

Agreement between Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Republic of Uzbekistan on joint activities in addressing the Aral Sea and the zone around the Sea crisis, improving the environment, and enduring the social and economic development of the Aral Sea region (1993)

Statute of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (ICWC)

Statute of the Scientific-Information Center of ICWC (SIC ICWC)

Statute on SIC ICWC branches in the Aral Sea basin states

Statute of the Secretariat of ICWC

Statute of the Basin Water Association “Amudarya”

Statute of the Basin Water Association “Syrdarya”

Statute on Coordination-Metrological Center ICWC

Nukus Declaration (1995)

Almaty Declaration (1997)

Tashkent Declaration on the SPECA (1998)

Ashgabat Declaration (1999)

Declaration of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2001)

Dushanbe Declaration (2002)

Joint Statement by the Head of Founder-States of the International Fund for the Aral Sea Saving (2009)

Resolution of the UN General Assembly A/RES/63/133 “Observer status for the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in the General Assembly” (2008)

Resolution of the UN General Assembly A/RES/64/198 “Midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015” (2010)

Resolution of the UN General Assembly A/64/692 “Water, peace and security: transboundary water cooperation” (2010)

Resolution of the UN General Assembly A/64/692/Corr.1 “Water, peace and security: transboundary water cooperation” (corrigendum) (2010)

Resolution of the UN General Assembly A/64/693 “Organization of the midterm comprehensive review of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life” 2005-2015” (2010)

Resolution of the UN General Assembly A/64/694 “Water and the internationally agreed development goals” (2010)

Resolution of the UN General Assembly A/64/695 “Water, climate change and disasters” (2010)


  National water legislation


Law on Water Resources of the Republic of Albania (1996)

Law on the protection of transboundary lakes of the Republic of Albania (2003)

Water Code of the Azerbaijan Republic (1997)

Water Code of the Republic of Armenia (2002)

Belize Water and Sewerage Act (1971)

Bulgaria Law on Waters (1999)

Bulgaria Water Users Association Act (2001)

Brazil Water Policy Act (1997)

Canada Water Act (2000)

Water Act of the Czech Republic (2001)

Water Act of Georgia (2000)

Dominica Central Water Authority Act (1967)

Estonia Water Act (1994)

Indonesia Government Regulation concerning rivers (1991)

Water Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (2004)

The Law of Kyrgyz Republic on Interstate Use of Water Bodies, Water Resources and Water Structures of Kyrgyz Republic (2001)

Law on Water of the Republic of Lithuania (1997)

Waste Management Law of the Republic of Latvia (2001)

The Mongolian Law on Water (1995)

Moldova Water Code (1993)

Nepal Water Resources Act (1992)

Water Code of the Philippines (1976)

Romania Water Law (1996)

Water Code of the Republic of Tajikistan (2000)

The Water Laws Act of the United Republic of Tanzania (1999)

Scotland Water Industry Act (2002)

South Africa Water Services Act (1997)

South Africa National Water Act (1998)

Water Act of Swaziland (2003)

Laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan “Water and Water Use” (1993)

Water Resources Management Act of the Republic of Vanuatu (2002)

Zimbabwe Water Bill (1998)