The UN Watercourses Convention requires states sharing a river to use it equitably and avoid significant harm to each other

International Background Environment & Climate Polity & Governance

The UN Watercourses Convention requires states sharing a river to use it equitably and avoid significant harm to each other

Background

The Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 21 May 1997 (resolution 51/229).
It entered into force on 17 August 2014.
Article 5 requires states to use a shared watercourse in an equitable and reasonable manner.
Article 7 requires states to take all appropriate measures to prevent significant harm to other watercourse states.
States planning measures with significant adverse effects must give other affected states timely notice.
The Convention has 37 articles.

Adopted: 21 May 1997, resolution 51/229 Entered into force: 17 August 2014 Articles: 37

Why it matters for exams: Gives the legal basis for river-sharing disputes such as the Nile, which come up in international relations and geography papers.

Kerala PSCUPSC

5 October 2026 Source: United Nations Codification Division (legal.un.org)

In plain words

Equitable and reasonable utilization Article 5 principle — States must use a shared river in a fair way that weighs all relevant factors.

No-harm rule Obligation not to cause significant harm — States must take all appropriate measures to prevent significant harm to other watercourse states.