IPI Lunchtime Policy Forum Event - "Water in Armed Conflicts"

The International Peace Institute (IPI), the Geneva Water Hub (a global center of the University of Geneva) and UNICEF are pleased to invite you to a lunchtime policy forum event on Water in Armed Conflicts. The event will take place at IPI on Friday, March 22, 2019, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EST time).

Armed conflicts affect access to safe water in several ways: destruction of and damage to water facilities, attacks against power plants providing energy to water supply networks, and the collapse of water treatment plants and sewage systems are some of the examples. Water supply systems fail, supply lines are deliberately sabotaged, or water resources are poisoned to intimidate civilians. It takes months to repair and restore essential service infrastructure once it has been damaged. In the meantime, civilians are displaced, agricultural activities are brought to a halt, and epidemics can spread. Various organizations are increasingly bringing into the spotlight the severe consequences of armed conflicts on access to water for the civilian population.

At this policy forum, experts will present and discuss the Geneva List of Principles on the Protection of Water Infrastructure and the UNICEF Advocacy Alert to stimulate international cooperation to overcome the obstacles posed by armed conflicts to accessing water.

Introductory remarks

Hon. Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister, Australia; Chair of the International Peace Institute Board of Directors 

Panel

Dr Adam Lupel, Vice President, International Peace Institute  

H.E. Dr Danilo Türk, Former President of the Republic of Slovenia, Chairman of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace and Lead Political Advisor of the Geneva Water Hub  

Prof. Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Full Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva/Geneva Water Hub and Member of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace  

Ms Sandra Pellegrom, Head of Development, Humanitarian Affairs and Human Rights, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations 

Mr Hamish Young, Chief of Humanitarian Action and Transition, UNICEF

Moderator

Dr. Adam Lupel, Vice President, International Peace Institute