Dundee welcomes Britain's first UNESCO Centre of Excellence

The University has become home to the UK's first UNESCO centre of excellence, after the United Nation's agency granted the much sought after status to the International Water Law Research Institute (IWLRI).

The IWLRI now becomes the International Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science under the auspices of UNESCO at the University of Dundee. It is the first UNESCO centre in the world to develop legal frameworks to help address the pressing problems related to the management of the world's water resources.

Access to water and sanitation has been identified by the UN as one of the key Millennium Development Goals and a key factor in developing international security.

The new centre has attracted £900,000 of Scottish Executive funding over the next five years to help with development.

The award of UNESCO status to the Dundee centre was welcomed by Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen, who said, "Clean water is fundamental - no matter what country you live in."

"Dundee University's new centre of excellence means that the city - and Scotland - now has the opportunity to help improve health and save lives in many developing countries.

"This award will also attract first class postgraduate researchers to Dundee and will promote Scotland as a good place to live, work and do business."

The University's submission had to proceed through a rigorous series of evaluations set by UNESCO's Executive Board before it received full ratification at the 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Paris. Final lobbying for the bid took place at a reception at UNESCO headquarters, hosted by the UK Ambassador to UNESCO, HE Tim Craddock and the University's Principal, Sir Alan Langlands.

Sir Alan said, "UNESCO status will enhance the opportunity for Dundee to assist states around the world in developing sound water laws and policies, contributing to regional peace and security. Robust and fair water agreements are vital for peace, and it is crucial that nations work together to tackle the world's water problems."

The University's successful bid was also welcomed by Mr Craddock.

"The new UNESCO Centre at Dundee University covers issues where the UK as a whole is at the cutting-edge of policy development," he said. "It is good that Scotland has been chosen by UNESCO to showcase this area of excellence. Too often UK science does not get the recognition domestically it deserves. Now a great badge of international recognition has come to Dundee, something which is good for the whole of the UK."

The UNESCO Centre in Dundee will fulfil a key role in ensuring there are transparent, enforceable and responsive policies to address the world's water problems, supported by legal frameworks for implementation - including water treaties, laws and regulations.

"Identifying and facilitating the transparent implementation of equitable and reasonable access to water for all -- especially for the weakest -- is a key objective of water law," said Dr Patricia Wouters, Director of the International Water Law Research Institute at the University.

"It levels the playing field, and provides a framework for action, the basic 'rules of the game', where competition over rapidly diminishing resources can lead to conflicts and regional insecurity.

"Responses to these complex situations require an interdisciplinary approach, with input from water lawyers, policy-makers and scientists. The Dundee UNESCO Centre will seek to get these communities working together, and we are ideally placed to do that."