International Forum “RULES OF WATER, RULES FOR LIFE”, Milan, Italy, 27-28 September, 2017. Report of attendance by AIDA member Paola Esposito

The International Forum “RULES OF WATER, RULES FOR LIFE”, which was held in Milan on 27-28 September 2017, was the first edition of what will become an annual event on water as a key element of sustainable development. It was organized under the auspices of the Italian G7 Presidency 2017 and  promoted by the Milan Center for Food Law and Policy chaired by Dr. Livia Pomodoro former President of the Milan Court.

The Forum brought together representatives of the academia, lawmakers, regulators, private sector experts, international organizations and governmental bodies to share experiences and encourage debate on how water-related principles as defined in the 2030 Agenda – Goal 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation”; Goal 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities”; Goal 5 “Gender Equality” – can be translated into practice.

Not only were 60 experts from 14 countries involved in the event, but also 100 students from all over Italy, who took part in the first national Water Hackathon promoted by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research.

Scientific partners of the event were OECD Water Governance Programme and UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP).

AIDA member Prof. Mara Tignino received the Women Peacebuilders for Water Award marking the seventeenth anniversary of Resolution 1325 adopted by the United Nations Security Council to recognize the contribution of women to peace building in post-conflict situations.

The AIDA Executive Chairman, Mr. Stefano Burchi, took part as invited panelist in a WWAP panel on ‘Moving beyond inequalities’, on 28 September. He dwelled on the available and emerging regulatory mechanisms in mainstream water legislation to ensure that “no one is left behind” in the competition for water resources.

At the end of the two-day event a declaration was produced – THE MILAN DECLARATION –  as the joint work of all participants and  Dr. Livia Pomodoro read it out on their behalf (see below). To read the Declaration, follow the link http://rulesofwater.milanoglobal.org/contents/MILAN%20DECLARATION%20(1).pdf. 

Conference programme: http://rulesofwater.milanoglobal.org/contents/program_day1_en.pdf ]

MCFLP (from EXPO Milano 2015 toward 2030): www.milanfoodlaw.org