Iv Foro Mundial Del Agua

WORLD-WIDE ENCOUNTER OF LEGISLATORS ON WATER ISSUES MEXICO DECLARATION

IV WORLD WATER FORUM WORLD-WIDE ENCOUNTER OF LEGISLATORS ON WATER ISSUES MEXICO DECLARATION As popular representatives sensible to the social demands and challenges that our countries and the world face in the matter of supplying, management, administration, protection and financing of water systems, as well as sustainability of hydric resources, the legislators assembled in the IV World Water Forum in Mexico City from 19 to 20 of March, 2006, we recognize that concerning policy and actions on water issues we face crucial challenges requiring actions at local, regional, national and international levels.

As legislators, we are worried about the hundreds of million people who do not have access to quality water and sufficient to their development. We vindicate that water cannot be a conflict element.

The parliamentarians we commit our selves to impel from our responsabilities a legal framework that respond, in a suitable way, to the policies and perspectives that each country consider, could foster and recognize citizen participation and contribute with proposals of public policies and legal regulations within the international context.

Within the frame of this IV World Water Forum, deputies and senators we have acknowledged the vital role of water in the planet. In this way, we declare:

1. The water is not merchandise or a fixed resource. Water has a social, environmental and economic value. Water is an essential resource and a public domain good.

2. We expect that actions undertaken by each one of us locally could be added to build up a world-wide commitment, by which the access to water is recognized to every human being as an essential right, without concerning the place where he or she has been born or lives.

3. We invite developed countries to support through cooperation and solidarity programs the poor countries to supply drinking water to marginal communities.

4. We consider that all programs for water supply and water sanitation must promote equity among gender and ethnic groups.

5. We are committed to transfer to our parliaments the initiative to constitute a coalition of members of the legislative commissions related to water from different national parliaments. This coalition will work, among other aspects, to identify the possible necessities to enrich an international legislation in relation to water, to pursue accomplishment of agreed commitments, as well as to search for more solid budgets and without any other interest than to resolve this sensible part of the problematic. WORLD-WIDE ENCOUNTER OF LEGISLATORS ON WATER ISSUES MEXICO DECLARATION

6. We recognize the existence of proposals emanating from diverse arenas of international legislative discussions and documents presented in this international legislative encounter, which will continue to be analyzed and discussed by means of a second world-wide meeting of legislators on water issues.

We congratulate the initiative to organize this World-wide Encounter of Legislators on Water issues and we thank for the hospitality of the Mexican Congress, the collaboration of staff members and civil servants and all those that participated in the organization of this encounter.

Abril 06 2 Versión 3