OSCE in Tajikistan helps develop university curriculum on international water law

DUSHANBE 16 November 2011 - Principles for sharing water resources, best practices in river basin management, and tools to prevent and solve conflicts in international water law are the focus of an OSCE-supported workshop that ended today in Dushanbe.

The two-day event brought together representatives of government ministries, state institutions and non-governmental, organizations as well as teachers and lecturers from schools and universities working in the field of water, energy, and agriculture in Tajikistan. The workshop contributed to the development of a curriculum in international water law for short, mid and long-term educational programmes for professionals dealing with water issues in the country.

“The workshop is part of the OSCE Office’s assistance to the government in addressing water and energy security challenges. It also contributes to national and regional dialogue on water management,” said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

Rahmat Bobokalonov, Tajikistan’s Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources, said that “a systematic approach is key for future development. Therefore, it is very important that all entities involved in the water sector in Tajikistan know and understand it appropriately. This workshop will be an important contribution toward enriching the experience of our specialists.”
 
Sergei Vinogradov, Professor at the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom, an internationally recognized expert on international water law, led the workshop. Participants reviewed basic principles and norms of international water law, and became familiar with the mechanisms of international co-operation in the protection and use of water resources, as well as mechanisms for settling international disputes in this area.

Since 2009, the Office in Tajikistan has been supporting programmatic activities and facilitating analytical contributions and strategic advice on sustainable management of water resources, policy development, regional water dialogue and confidence-building.