Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts

The Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts galvanises efforts to protect the human dignity of the population affected from armed conflicts. The alliance will disseminate existing legal and technical tools for the protection of freshwater and related installations from armed conflicts.

Areas of current and future potential collaboration among key stakeholders include:  

• Promoting understanding of the far-reaching consequences of attacks and military use of freshwater and water-related installations on the populations and the environment.
• Proposing actions that parties to armed conflicts can take to further strengthen the protection ensured by international law, including dissemination of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), engaging armed non-state actors, promoting good practices and lessons learned.
• Promoting the implementation of Resolutions 2417 (2018) and 2573 (2021) adopted by the Security Council, the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (2022) and other relevant instruments.  
• Exploring the possibility for an inter-governmental political ‘Declaration for sparing water from armed conflicts’ which provides states the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to spare water in armed conflicts, to deter its use as a means or method of warfare.
• Developing analysis on the potential roles of the United Nations General Assembly, Security Council and Human Rights Council in promoting the protection of water and in facilitating preventive ‘operation and maintenance’ of water and water-related infrastructure in times of conflict for humanitarian and development actors.

Visit the following links to know more about the Alliance: 

• "Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Protection of Water in Armed Conflicts", Concept Note, ILW Week 2024
• "Essential Services Providers and Their Safety in Contemporary Armed Conflicts", Concept Note, ILW Week 2025
• "Sparing Water from Armed Conflicts for Enhanced Protection of Civilians - A Launch of the Global Alliance", Concept Note, PoC Week 2024
• "UNSC Arria Formula Meeting Protecting Water in Armed Conflict – Protecting Civilian Lives", Concept Note, PoC Week 2025
• "UNSC Arria Formula Meeting Protecting Water in Armed Conflict - Protecting Civilan Lives", Joint Statement, PoC Week 2025
• "UNSC Open Debate on Protection of Civilians", Joint Statement, PoC Week 2025
• "UNSC Arria Formula Meeting Protecting Water in Armed Conflict – Protecting Civilian Lives", Summary, PoC Week 2025

Learn more about the Global Alliance through the following publications: 

• paxforpeace.nl/publications
• www.genevacall.org/fr/resources/documents
• www.unicef.org/stories/water-under-fire
• legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/draft_articles/8_7_2022.pdf
• www.icrc.org/en/document/guidelines-protection-natural-environment-armed-conflict-rules-and-recommendations-relating
• blogs.icrc.org/law-and-policy/2017/03/02/war-in-cities-the-reverberating-effects-of-explosive-weapons
• international-review.icrc.org/sites/default/files/irc_97_901-9.pdf

You can also download supporting documents below: