THE GLOBAL NETWORK OF WATER MUSEUMS BECOMES A UNESCO-IHP INITIATIVE!

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[Paris, 15th of June 2018]. The Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Program (UNESCO-IHP) unanimously voted a Resolution endorsing a worldwide network of water museums at its 23rd Session. The Resolution passed cites the:

“Global Network of Water Museums and UNESCO-IHP in support of Water Sustainability Education and Water Awareness Efforts”

“Water museums represent a unique heritage, displaying and questioning the different water civilizations that have developed around the world: from oases in the desert to terraced fields, water mills, waterways, aqueducts, fountains and rain harvesting artefacts… Today’s water resources are increasingly threatened by waste, quantity and quality degradation, despite extraordinary technological progress – or rather, because of it. Hydraulic heritage is a vital source of inspiration to face the modern water crises on a universal scale. In this context, the Global Network aims to reinstate a new relationship between humanity and water, a new sense of civilization, which helps us to reconnect people and water in all its dimensions: technical, but also social, cultural, artistic and spiritual.

The Resolution XXIII-6 was officially submitted to the IHP Council by the Netherlands and formally supported by Canada, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland, Iran, Morocco, Tunisia, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador, Paraguay, Argentina, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan and Zambia through their Permanent Delegations to UNESCO.
The approval of the Resolution confirms future synergies of the Global Network with UNESCO with the objective to better use water museums to improve water management and to disseminate water-related knowledge through education and public awareness-raising activities, web platforms, conferences, workshops, publications, exhibitions and art performances.

The Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET) is a non-profit organization aimed at transmitting through generations unique water-related knowledge – both natural and cultural, tangible and intangible – including hydraulic artifacts, unique environments, management models and techniques, perceptions, attitudes and behaviors. Currently, there are over 60 institutions, which count a combined audience of more than 5 million visitors per year. Each member has its own vision and diverse and particular approach with regard to water, concerning educational, cultural and scientific activities.

WAMU-NET was first established in May 2017 at the international conference hosted by the Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (UNESCO), based in Venice, Italy, with the aim of preserving all waters, together with the cultural and historical dimensions which still may narrate the special and unique relationship of humanity with the liquid element.
The successful team which submitted the Resolution (on the Global Network of Water Museums) to the 23rd Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO in Paris, with representatives from the Netherlands Permanent Delegation, the University of Venice, Civiltà dell’Acqua, and representatives of UNESCO-IHP and of water museums from Portugal, Romania and Iran.
Global Network of Water Museums team after a presentin the resolution to the 23rd Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO in Paris, on the 12th June.
Right: Philippe Pypaert of UNESCO-IHP with WAMUNET representatives Victor-Lucian Croitoru, Romania; Mariana Castro Henriques, Portugal; Hugo Groeneveld, Netherlands and Eriberto Eulisse Civiltà dell’Acqua at the WAMUNET side event cocktail of the 23rd IHP Council Session in Paris.
Eriberto Eulisse coordinator of WAMUNET at the end of the 23rd IHP Council Session in Paris with representatives from UNESCO-IHP and the Netherlands Permanent Delegation (RIGHT: Sandra de Vries, Philippe Pypaert and Alexander Otte) and from ICQHS International Centre on Qanats and Hydraulic Structures, Iran (LEFT: Majid Labbaf)
Eriberto Eulisse, coordinator and Ann Adanusah, communications, for the Global Network of Water Museums with Honourable Joseph Kofi Adda, Ghanaian Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation and the Elizabeth Sarkodie-Mensah of the Ghanaian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO who signed the Resolution.
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