INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR WATER LAW (AIDA)
www.aida-waterlaw.org
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
AIDA Announces Winners of Inaugural Water Law Excellence Awards
The only international awards dedicated to recognising excellence in water law honour three distinguished recipients
Rome/Oslo — April 2026 — The International Association for Water Law (AIDA) today announced the recipients of the inaugural AIDA Water Law Excellence Awards, the first and only international awards programme dedicated exclusively to recognising outstanding contributions to water law at all levels of governance. The awards will be formally presented at the AIDA World Water Law Congress, hosted by the University of Oslo, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), and the Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA) in Oslo, Norway, on 24–26 June 2026, under the theme “Water Law and Governance in Times of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss.”
Joint Recipients: AIDA Global Water Law Excellence Award
The jury unanimously awarded the AIDA Global Water Law Excellence Award jointly to Professor Patricia Wouters and Dr. Salman M.A. Salman. Professor Wouters, previously at the University of Dundee and then Founding Director of the International Water Law Academy at the University of Wuhan, China, is recognised for her academic leadership and doctrinal influence in transboundary water law, water security, and international cooperation. Dr. Salman, former Lead Counsel at the World Bank, is recognised for his operational impact in water law reform, institutional development, and the negotiation of international agreements. The jury concluded that both candidates had reached an equivalent and exceptional level of achievement, representing two complementary dimensions of excellence.
Recipient: AIDA Early-Career Water Law Award
The jury unanimously selected Eloïse Pelletier, a legal professional specialising in environmental protection and water in armed conflict, who holds an LL.M. in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights with highest honours. Her research on the protection of water resources in conflict contexts was recognised for its originality, rigour, and relevance.
About the Awards and the Selection Process
The AIDA Water Law Excellence Awards are the only international awards programme focused exclusively on water law, broadly defined and at all levels of governance. They are open to all professionals regardless of AIDA membership. Nominations were evaluated through a rigorous, multi-stage process overseen by an independent Awards Committee and scored by expert juries based on predefined criteria.
About AIDA
The International Association for Water Law (AIDA) is a global community of lawyers and non-lawyers active in the field of freshwater resources, dedicated to advancing knowledge, dialogue, and the evolution of water law and governance at all levels. For more information, visit www.aida-waterlaw.org.
Media Contact
International Association for Water Law | info@aida-waterlaw.org | www.aida-waterlaw.org
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