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Analytical Guide


Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses

last update: 30 June 2005
A. Mandate
    G.A. Res. 2669 (XXV) of 8 December 1970 (E, F, S, R, C, A)
B. Studies undertaken by the Secretariat and Reports of the Secretary-General
    1. 23rd session of the International Law Commission (1971) 
      - Note by the Secretariat
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/244/Rev.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1971, vII(2) (F))
    2. 25th session of the International Law Commission (1973)
      - Supplementary report on the legal problems relating to the non-navigational uses of international watercourses requested by the General Assembly in resolution 2669 (XXV) - Advance report submitted by the Secretary-General pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2926 (XXVII)
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/270 (F) (in Ybk, 1973, vII) (F))
- ILC Report, A/9010/Rev.1 (F) (A/28/10), 1973, chp. VI(A)(2), paras.146-150
    3. 26th session of the International Law Commission (1974)
      - Legal Problems relating to the utilization and use of international rivers - Report by the Secretary-General
- U.N. Doc. A/5409 (F) (in Ybk, 1974, vII(2) (F))
      - Legislative texts and treaty provisions concerning the utilization of international rivers for other purposes than navigation (U.N. Legislative series, vol.12)
- ST/LEG/SER.B/12 (United Nations Publication, Sales No. 63.V.4) 
      - Legal problems relating to the non-navigational uses of international watercourses: supplementary report by the Secretary-General
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/274 (F) (in Ybk, 1974, vII(2) (F))
C. Reports of the Working Group or Sub-Committee
    1. 26th session of the International Law Commission (1974)
      - Report of the Sub-Committee on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/283 (F) (in ILC Report, A/9610/Rev.1, (F), 1974, chp. V, annex)
D. Reports of the Special Rapporteur
    1. Consideration of the replies that had been submitted by Governments to the questionnaire.  
      - First report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Richard D. Kearney (28th session of the ILC (1976))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/295 (F) (in Ybk, 1976, vII(1) (F)) 
- ILC Report, A/31/10, (F), 1976, chp. V, paras.139-166
    2. Introductory chapter dealing with the nature of the topic, Chapter II - treatment of the topic by the Commission and the scope of its work, Chapter III - utility of "user agreements" and Chapter IV on regulation of data collection and exchange.  
      - First Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen Schwebel (31st session of the ILC (1979))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/320 and Corr.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1979, vII(1)  (F)) 
- ILC Report, A/34/10, (F), 979, chp. V(A), par. 109
    3. Six draft articles were proposed dealing with: "scope" (article 1), "system States" (article 2), "system agreements" (article 4), "parties to the negotiation and conclusion of system agreements" (article 5), "collection and exchange of information" (article 6) and "a shared natural resource" (article 7). It also contained a draft article 3 on "meaning of terms".  
      - Second report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen Schwebel (32nd session of the ILC (1980))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/332 and Corr.1 and Add.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1980, vII(1) (F)) 
- ILC Report, A/35/10, (F), 1980, chp. V(A)(1), par. 85
    4. Discussion on the status of the work of the topic, together with a set of proposed draft general principles, including: "equitable participation", the ascertainment of equitable use, and responsibility for appreciable harm etc. Several further questions, such as river regulation, hydraulic installations and water security, interaction with navigational uses, administrative arrangements, and the avoidance and settlement of disputes, were considered by the Special Rapporteur.  
      - Third report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen Schwebel (34th session of the ILC (1982))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/348 and Corr.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1982, vII(1) (F))
- ILC Report, A/37/10, 1982, chp. VII(A), par. 251
    5. A brief outline of the work together with a tentative draft Convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses.  
      - First report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Jens Evensen (35th session of the ILC (1983))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/367 and Corr.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1983, vII(1) (F)) 
- ILC Report, A/38/10, (F), 1983, chp. VI(B), paras.215-260
    6. Revised tentative draft of a convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses. The draft consisted of 41 draft articles contained in six chapters as follows: introductory articles (chp.I); general principles, rights and duties of watercourse States (chp.II); co-operation and management in regard to international watercourses (chp.III); environmental protection, pollution, health hazards, natural hazards, safety and national and regional sites (chp.IV); peaceful settlement of disputes (chp.V); final provisions (chp.VI).   
      - Second Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Jens Evensen (36th session of the ILC (1984))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/381 and Corr.1 and 2 (French only) (F) (in Ybk, 1984, vII (1) (F))
- ILC Report, A/39/10, (F), 1984, chp. VI(B), paras. 279-343
    7. Preliminary report which reviewed Commission's work thus far and indicated his preliminary views as to general lines along which Commission's work could proceed: draft articles 1 to 9 should be taken up by Drafting Committee at the 38th session, and the general organizational structure for further draft articles proposed by the previous Special Rapporteur should be followed.  
      - Preliminary Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen C. McCaffrey (37th session of the ILC (1985))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/393 (F) (in Ybk, 1985, vII(1) (F)) 
- ILC Report, A/40/10, (F), 1985, chp. VII(B), paras.279-90
    8. Status of the Commission's work on the topic; views on draft articles 1 to 9 as submitted by the previous Special Rapporteur; and set of five draft articles concerning procedural rules applicable in cases involving proposed new uses of watercourses.  
      - Second Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen C. McCaffrey (38th session of the ILC (1986))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/399 and Add.1-2 (F) (in Ybk, 1986, vII(1) (F))  
- ILC Report, A/41/10, (F), 1986, chp. VII(B), paras.231-243
    9. Reviewed status of the work (chp. I); set forth general considerations on procedural rules relating to the utilization of international watercourses (chp. II); submitted six draft articles (arts. 10-15) concerning general principles of cooperation and notification (chp. III); and addressed the question of exchange of data and information (chp. IV).  
      - Third Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen C. McCaffrey (39th session of the ILC (1987))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/406 and Corr.1, Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1, Add.2 and Add.2/Corr.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1987, vII(1) (F))
- ILC Report, A/42/10, (F), 1987, chp. III(B), paras. 84-116
    10. Report divided into three chapters: "Status of work on the topic and plan for future work" (chp. I); "Exchange of data and information" (chp. II) submitting draft article 15; and "Environmental protection, pollution and related matters" (chp.III) submitting draft articles 16, 17, and 18.  
      - Fourth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen C. McCaffrey (40th session of the ILC (1988))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/412 and Add.1 and Add./Corr.1, and Add.2 and Add.2/Corr.1 to 3 (F) (in Ybk, 1988, vII(1) (F)) 
- ILC Report, A/43/10, (F), 1988, chp. III(B), paras. 118-188
    11. Chapter I of the report dealt with parts VI of the draft and contained draft article 22 (Water-related hazards, harmful conditions and other adverse effects) and article 23 (Water-related dangers and emergency situations); chapter II and III dealt with the relationship between non-navigational and navigational uses and with the regulation of international watercourses and contained two draft articles (arts. 24 and 25) on those sub-topics for part VII and VIII of the draft, respectively.  
      - Fifth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen C. McCaffrey (41st session of the ILC (1989))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/421 and Corr.1-4, and Add.1-2 (F) (in Ybk, 1989, vII(1) (F)) 
- ILC Report, A/44/10, (F), 1989, chp. VII(B), paras.632-683
    12. Draft article 26 (Joint institutional management), article 27 (Protection of water resources and installations), article 28 (Status of international watercourses and water installations in time of armed conflict) and annex I "Implementation of the articles".  
      - Sixth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen C. McCaffrey (42nd session of the ILC (1990))
- ILC Report, A/CN.4/427 and Corr. 1, and Add.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1990, vII(1) (F))
- ILC Report, A/45/10, (F), 1990, chp. IV(B), paras.251-311
    13. Chapters on the structure of part I of the draft articles and on the use of terms; proposal for article [1][2] on the use of terms.  
      - Seventh Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Stephen C. McCaffrey (43rd session of the ILC (1991))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/436 and Corr.1-3 (F) (in Ybk, 1991, vII(1) (F)) 
- ILC Report, A/46/10, (F), 1991, chp. III(B), paras.35-56
    14. Analysed the written comments and observations received from Governments and made some changes in the articles adopted on first reading; raised two issues of a general character: whether the eventual form of the articles should be a convention or model rules; and the question of dispute settlement procedure. Examined arts. 1 to 10 of Parts I and II of the topic: scope of the present articles (art.1), use of terms (art.2), watercourse agreements (art.3), parties to watercourse agreements (art.4), equitable and reasonable utilization and participation (art.5), factors relevant to equitable and reasonable utilization (art.6), obligation not to cause appreciable harm (art.7), general obligation to cooperate (art.8), regular exchange of data and information (art.9), relationship between uses (art.10).  
      - First Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Robert Rosenstock (45th session of the ILC (1993))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/451 (F)  
- ILC Report, A/48/10, (F), 1993, chp. V(B), paras.342-416
    15. Contained, in addition to a few amendments to the draft articles adopted on a second reading by the Drafting Committee at the previous session, new texts proposed by the Special Rapporteur for the draft articles not yet considered by the Drafting Committee, namely draft articles 7 and 11 to 32, as well as a new draft article on the settlement of disputes.  
      - Second Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Robert Rosenstock (46th session of the ILC (1994))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/462 and Corr.1 (Spanish only)  (F)
- ILC Report, A/49/10, (F), 1994, chp. III(A), paras. 216, 217
E. Reports of the Drafting Committee
    1. 32nd session of the International Law Commission (1980)
      - Texts adopted by the Drafting Committee: Articles 1-5, X and explanatory note
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.316 (F) (in Ybk, 1980, vI, (F), 1636th mtg (17 July 1980))
    2. 39th session of the International Law Commission  
    (1987) 
      - Titles and texts adopted by the Drafting Committee: titles of parts I and II of the draft; articles 1 to 7
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.411 (F) (in Ybk, 1987, vI, (F), 2028th to 2030th mtgs (7 to 9 July 1987), and 2033rd mtg (13 July 1987))
    3. 40th session of the International Law Commission  
    (1988) 
      - Titles and texts adopted by the Drafting Committee: titles of the parts II and III of the draft; articles 8 to 21
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.421 (F) (in Ybk, 1988, vI, (F), 2070th to 2973rd mtgs (29 June 1988 to 5 July 1988))
    4. 42nd session of the International Law Commission  
    (1990) 
      - Titles and texts adopted by the Drafting Committee: articles 22 to 27
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.445 (F) (in Ybk, 1990, vI, (F), 2187th and 2188th mtgs (5 and 6 July 1990))
    5. 43rd session of the International Law Commission 
    (1991) 
      - Titles and texts adopted by the Drafting Committee: Parts I, II, and VI of the draft articles; articles 2, 10 and 26 to 33
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.458 and Corr.1 and Add.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1991, vI, (F)), 2228th to 2230th mtgs (21 to 26 June 1991))
    6. 45th session of the International Law Commission (1993)
      - Titles and texts adopted by the Drafting Committee on second reading: arts.1-6 and 8-10
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.489 (F) (in Ybk, 1993, vI, (F), 2322nd mtg (19 July 1993))
    7. 46th session of the International Law Commission (1994) 
      - Titles and texts adopted by the Drafting Committee on second reading: arts.1-33
  

- U.N.Doc. A/CN.4/L.492 and Corr.1, Corr.2 (French only) and Corr.3 (English only) and Add.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1994, vI, (F), 2353rd mtg (21 June 1994))

F. Comments by Governments
    1. 28th session of the International Law Commission (1976)  
      - Replies of Governments to the Commission's questionnaire
 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/294 and Add.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1976, vII(1) (F))
    2. 30th session of the International Law Commission (1978)  
      - Replies of Governments to the Commission's questionnaire
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/314 (F) (in Ybk, 1978, vII(1) (F))
    3. 31st session of the International Law Commission (1979)  
      - Replies of Governments to the Commission's questionnaire
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/324 (F) (in Ybk, 1979, vII(1) (F))
    4. 32nd session of the International Law Commission (1980)  
      - Replies of Governments to the Commission's questionnaire
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/329 and Add.1 (F) (in Ybk, 1980, vII(1) (F))
    5. 34th session of the International Law Commission (1982)  
      - Replies of Governments to the Commission's questionnaire
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/352 and Add.1 (F) (in Ybk , 1982, vII(1) (F))
    6. 45th session of the International Law Commission (1993)  
      - Comments and observations received from Governments on the draft articles
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/447 and Add.1-5 (F) 
G. Other
    1. 35th session of the International Law Commission (1983)  
      - Note presented by Mr. Constantin Stavropoulos
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.353 (F) (in Ybk, 1983, vII(1) (F))
    2. 46th session of the International Law Commission (1994)  
      - Draft articles and commentaries thereto adopted by the Drafting Committee
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.493 and Add.1 and 2 (F) (in Ybk, 1994, vI, (F))
   
H. Reports of the International Law Commission
    1. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its twenty-third session, 26 April to 30 June 1971  
      - Decided to include the topic in the Commission's general programme of work without prejudging the priority to be given to its study.  
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1128th (F) mtg (2 July 1971)
- ILC Report, A/8410/Rev.1 (F) (A/26/10), 1971, chp. V(A), paras.119-122  
- Ybk, 1971, vII(1) (F)
-Ybk, 1971, vI (F)
    2. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its twenty-fourth session, 2 May to 7 July 1972  
      - Concluded that the topic was of both substantial urgency and complexity, and requested the Secretariat to continue compiling material relating to the topic with specific reference to the problems of international watercourses.
- ILC Report, A/8710/Rev.1 (F) (A/27/10), 1972, chp. V(A), par.77  
- Ybk, 1972, vII (F)
    3. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its twenty-fifth session, 7 May to 13 July 1973  
      - Formal decision on the commencement of work on the topic should be taken after members have had an opportunity to review the Secretary-General's supplementary report expected before the 26th session. 
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1233rd (F), 1234th (F), 1235th (F), 1236th (F), and 1237th (F) mtgs (25 to 29 June 1973)
- ILC Report, A/9010/Rev.1 (F) (A/28/10), 1973, chp. VI(A)(2), paras.144-150, 175
- Ybk, 1973, vII (F)


-Ybk, 1973, vI (F)
    4. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its twenty-sixth session, 6 May to 26 July 1974  
      - The Commission set up a sub-committee to consider the question pursuant to Res. 3071 (XXVIII) of 30 November 1973. It adopted the report of the Sub-Committee, and appointed Mr. Richard D. Kearney as Special Rapporteur for the topic.  
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1297th (F) mtg (22 July 1974)
- ILC Report, A/9610/Rev.1 (F) (A/29/10), 1974, chp. V, paras. 146-159  
- Ybk. 1974, vII(1) (F) 
  

-Ybk, 1974, vI (F)

    5. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its twenty-seventh session, 5 May to 25 July 1975  
      - Pending the receipt of answers form Governments of Member States to a questionnaire circulated by the Secretary-General, the Commission did not consider the topic during the session.
- ILC Report, A/10010/Rev.1 (F) (A/30/10), 1975, chp. VI(A), par.138  
- Ybk, 1975, vII (F)
    6. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its twenty-eighth session, 3 May to 23 July 1976  
      - Decided that attention should be devoted to beginning the formulation of general principles applicable to legal aspects of the uses of the international watercourses. Decided that the question of determining the range of the term "international watercourses" need not be pursued at the outset of the work.
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1406th (F), 1407th (F), 1408th (F) and 1409th (F) mtgs (14 to 19 July 1976)
- ILC Report, A/31/10, (F), 1976, chp. V, paras.106-166  
- Ybk, 1976, vII(2) (F)
  


-Ybk, 1976, vI (F)

    7. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its twenty-ninth session, 9 May to 29 July 1977  
      - Appointed Mr. Stephen M. Schwebel as Special Rapporteur for the topic.
- ILC Report, A/32/10, (F), 1977, chp. V(B), par.79 - Ybk, 1977, vII(2) (F)
    8. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its thirtieth session, 8 May to 28 July 1978   
      - The Commission took note of the presentation made by the Special Rapporteur.  
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1526th (F) mtg (26 July 1978)
- ILC Report, A/33/10, (F), 1978, chp. VIII(A), paras. 157-160  
- Ybk, 1978, vII(2) (F)

- Ybk, 1978, vI (F)
    9. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its thirty-first session, 14 May to 3 August 1979  
      - The Commission considered and engaged in a general debate on the issues raised in the Special Rapporteur's report and on questions relating to the topic as a whole.  
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1554th (F), 1555th (F) and 1556th (F) mtgs (18 to 20 June 1979), 1577th (F) mtg (26 July 1979) and 1578th (F) mtg (27 July 1979) 
- ILC Report, A/34/10, (F), 1979, chp. V, paras. 86-148  
- Ybk, 1979, vII(2) (F)
  
  
 - Ybk, 1979, vI (F)
    10. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its thirty-second session, 5 May to 25 July 1980  
      - The Commission provisionally adopted draft articles 1-5 and article X, with commentaries. It also decided to use the provisional working hypothesis recommended by the Drafting Committee as to the meaning of the term "international watercourse system".  
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1607th (F), 1608th (F), 1609th (F), 1610th (F), 1611th (F) and 1612th (F) mtgs (9 to 16 June 1980) and 1636th (F) mtg (17 July 1980)
- ILC Report, A/35/10, (F), 1980, chp. V, paras. 59-98  
- Ybk, 1980, vII(2) (F)
  
  

- Ybk, 1980, vI (F)
    11. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its thirty-fourth session, 3 May to 23 July 1982  
      - The Commission appointed Mr. Jens Evensen as Special Rapporteur for the topic.
- ILC Report, A/37/10, (F), 1982, chp. VII(A), paras.250-251  
- Ybk, 1982, vII(1) (F)
- ILC Report, A/38/10, (F), 1983, chp. VI, paras.191-260  
- Ybk, 1983, vII(2) (F)

-Ybk, 1983, vI (F)
    13. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its thirty-sixth session, 7 May to 27 July 1984  
      - The Commission, after considering the Special Rapporteur's second report (its discussion was focused on draft articles 1 to 9 and questions related thereto), decided to refer draft articles 1 to 9 contained in the second report to the Drafting Committee. Owing to lack of time, the Committee was unable to consider those articles at the session.   
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1831st (F) and 1832nd (F) mtgs (30 May and 1 June 1984), 1853rd (F), 1854th (F), 1855th (F), 1856th (F) and 1857th (F) mtgs (3 to 9 July 1984), 1859th (F) and 1860th (F) mtgs (11 and 12 July 1984)
- ILC Report, A/39/10, (F), 1984, chp. VI, paras.258-343  
- Ybk, 1984, vII(2) (F)
  
  
  
- Ybk, 1984, vI (F)
    14. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its thirty-seventh session, 6 May to 26 July 1985  
      - Appointed Mr. Stephen C. McCaffrey Special Rapporteur upon the resignation of Mr. Jens Evenson. Considered the preliminary report of the new Special Rapporteur.  
      - Discussion in Plenary: 1910th (F) mtg (25 June 1985), and 1928th (F) mtg (17 July 1985)
- ILC Report, A/40/10, (F), 1985, chp. VII, paras.268-290  
- Ybk, 1989, vII(2) (F)
  

- Ybk, 1985, vI (F)
- ILC Report, A/41/10, (F), 986, chp. VII, paras.220-243  
- Ybk, 1986, vII(2) (F)
- Ybk, 1986, vI (F)
- ILC Report, A/42/10, (F), 1987, chp. III, paras.68-118  
- Ybk, 1987, vII(2) (F)
  
  
  
 

- Ybk, 1987, vI (F)
- ILC Report, A/43/10, (F), 1988, chp.III, paras.103-91  
- Ybk, 1988, vII(2) (F)