Representative of Uzbekistan Elected to the Compliance Committee under the Protocol on Water and Health

Professor Abdulhakim Salokhiddinov from Uzbekistan has been elected as a member of the Compliance Committee during the seventh session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. The meeting was held on November 5-7 in Budapest.

This election recognizes Uzbekistan’s growing expertise and commitment to sustainable water management and improved sanitation across the pan-European region.

Professor Salokhiddinov serves as Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at the National Research University “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” (TIIAME-NRU). He also heads the UNESCO Chair in Water Diplomacy, Water Management, and Environmental Protection. His extensive experience in water management and water diplomacy will make a valuable contribution to the Committee’s work.

The election coincided with the announcement that Uzbekistan has officially acceded to the Protocol on Water and Health, becoming the 29th country to assume legal obligations under this unique international agreement.

About the Compliance Committee

The Compliance Committee under the Protocol on Water and Health is a key body responsible for facilitating, promoting, and securing compliance with the obligations under the Protocol. The Committee operates as an advisory, non-confrontational, and non-judicial body aimed at assisting countries in meeting their commitments under the Protocol. The Committee is composed of nine independent experts in law, health, and water management, elected by the Meeting of the Parties to serve in their personal capacities.

The main functions of the Committee include:

• Reviewing national reports on the establishment and achievement of water supply and sanitation targets;
• Monitoring and assessing compliance with reporting requirements;
• Considering specific cases of non-compliance, as submitted by Parties, the Secretariat, or the public, and developing recommendations to assist Parties in fulfilling their obligations.

Professor Salokhiddinov's election underscores Central Asia's growing role in shaping the global agenda on water and health.