Advancing water for peace

The Geneva Water Hub commits to: Promote principles and norms of international law related to effective transboundary water arrangements (SDG 6.5.2), notably the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) and the Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UN Watercourses Convention) as well as customary international water law. Develop international law designed to protect water systems from armed conflict, notably through the International Law Commission (ILC) Draft Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers, the ILC Principles on the Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts (PERAC), and the Geneva Principles on the Protection of Water Infrastructure. Develop an analytical and critical research agenda to underpin the effective use of water for peace and diplomacy, Support the role of youth and women in peacebuilding processes. Disseminate and support the understanding of principles and rules of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law related to water during and after armed conflict. Disseminate the technical knowledge required to better protect water from the reverberating effects of armed conflict and economic sanctions.

Collaborating Entity(ies)

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Contributing Action Number

CA1.1

Primary Entry Point

1: Lead and inspire collective action

Output(s)

Output 1.1: Water and sanitation issues are a strategic leadership priority for the UN System

Output 1.2: Action is inspired by compelling and unified UN system communications and messaging on water

SDG 6 Target(s)

Cross-cutting work on SDG 6

SDG target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM)

Water-related work on other SDGs

Type of Engagement

Normative support (e.g. development of normative guidance, guidelines and standards)

Data collection and analysis

Implementation (e.g. direct support and service delivery, pilot or larger scale)

Capacity development and technical assistance

Convening of stakeholders

Policy advice and thought leadership

Geographical Scope

Global level

Start Date

22 March 2023

End Date

22 March 2030

Leading Entity

Geneva Water Hub

United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation

The Contributing Actions are key initiatives supporting the United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation, aligning individual and joint efforts across UN entities and partnering organizations to advance global water and sanitation goals. These actions are integrated into the Collaborative Implementation Plan (CIP) Results Framework 2025-2028, which provides a structured approach to achieving system-wide impact through coordinated UN efforts.
The Priority Collaborative Actions outlined in the framework focus on enhancing water security, improving governance, strengthening climate resilience, and accelerating progress on sanitation and hygiene. By fostering system-wide collaboration among UN agencies, these actions help drive policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to address the world’s most pressing water challenges.