Mara Tignino, University of Geneva, , mara.tignino@unige.ch
Abstract
Individuals and affected communities are often excluded from decision making processes regarding the use of water resources. However, in the last two decades, non-state actors have been increasingly integrated into water management processes. Some international instruments, such as the 1998 Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, put emphasis on access to information and transparency in natural resource management. Public participation – encompassing the rights of individuals and groups to have access to information and participate in decision-making processes – is an increasingly common obligation in international agreements. The article identifies some of the main features of public participation in water management, drawing on international instruments and the practice of international actors.
Keywords: Public participation, access to information, environmental impact assessment