Page 111 - report_A Matter of Survival

Water is, without a doubt, one of the major challenges of the 21 st
century. The world needs to fundamentally rethink its global approach
to water - as a matter of survival.

Water quality is a growing problem in many regions of the world
that already suffer from water stress. Climate change aggravates the
problem and its devastating effects can be seen in floods, droughts,
the melting of ice caps or other natural disasters.

Considering that these factors represent major conflict-risk
multipliers and that water is increasingly used as an instrument of
war, it is ever more recognized that this reality puts worldwide peace
and security at risk.

At the same time, water is a powerful tool to foster cooperation.
Nothing can replace water. As such, it is the most powerful incentive
for coming to an agreement between stakeholders. The more
equitable their part in the accord, the higher the chances are for
reaching a stable and long-lasting agreement. The sharing of benefits
around water, the creation of river basin water users associations, the
implementation of river basin organizations, to name only a few, are
entry doors and triggers for dialogue, and incentives for cooperation
and peace and stability in the long term.

Fifteen countries share this concern around water and want to
address these challenges and see the outcome of the development
of such a positive vision. For this reason, in 2015, they established a
Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace. This Report is the result
of a two years mandate allowing the Panel to reflect on the challenges
of water and peace.

The Report contains the analysis and the recommendations adopted
by the Panel in order to prevent water-related conflicts and to make
water an instrument of peace. It has the ambition to address the water
challenges in an integrated and comprehensive manner, at multiple
levels, whether it is by fostering new practices, new institutions, water
diplomacy or strengthening international law, among others. We
have been profoundly impressed by the commitment of the Members
of the Panel to this cause. They share our hope, as Secretariat of the
Panel, that the recommendations of the Report will find wide echo
and encounter a large support to bring them to life. We hope that the
work of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace will mark
the beginning of a new era of cooperation around water which will, in
turn, strengthen human rights, development, and peace and security
worldwide.

The Geneva Water Hub
Secretariat of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace