📅 16 – 18 November 2022
Geneva, Switzerland
The sixth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health will be a key milestone for the implementation of the Protocol and an opportunity to discuss strategic directions of the pan-European water, sanitation, and health agenda. The meeting is expected to gather representatives of over 40 countries and other stakeholders from the region, including international and non-governmental organizations, development agencies, academia, and the private sector.
On 16 November 2022, there will be a high-level session on strengthening the resilience of WASH and health services in times of climate change and pandemics. The segment aims to take stock of countries’ responses to ensure access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also foster an open dialogue on how to tackle the challenges posed by climate change in the pan-European region to ensure climate-resilient WASH and health services.
Participants will further discuss achievements and lessons learned over the past three years of implementing the Protocol, including in the areas of prevention and reduction of water-related diseases, improving WASH in schools and health care facilities, safe management of water supply and sanitation systems, and equitable access to water and sanitation for all. Most importantly, the Meeting of the Parties will adopt a new program of work for the period 2023-2025, which is the main instrument to support the Protocol’s implementation and to respond to countries’ priorities and needs.
The meeting will review the situation with water, sanitation, hygiene, and health in the pan-European region, based on the 5th reporting cycle under the Protocol on Water and Health. The reporting cycle is a rich data hub for the region, containing information on existing environmental and health legislation and policies as well as data on several thematic aspects covered by the Protocol.