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In Pursuit of Agency: New Mechanisms of Water Diplomacy

which were once considered classic examples of political disputes. Providing Broad Recommendations and Advice
This has led to significant change in state practices on this issue. A for Water Cooperation
number of water-related disputes have been settled by arbitration
or the International Court of Justice. Given the informal nature of its operations, the GOWP could
cooperate with a variety of regional and national actors, as well
as with those involved in inter-sectoral water management.
Role of the Global Observatory for Water and
Peace with Respect to Potential Disputes The Observatory would help in the efforts to expand the number
of States Parties to the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention and
The Global Observatory for Water and Peace, as suggested the 1992 UNECE Water Convention (which since 2016 is open
above, would strengthen the capacity of international actors to for accession to all UN Member States). It would also strive to
communicate discreetly and to address incipient situations that facilitate the use of the Implementation Committee under the
might, if unattended, lead to friction and even full-scale inter- UNECE Water Convention.
state disputes. In addition, it would energize the inputs to the
prevention of possible armed conflicts that specifically include Since several important tasks of international water cooperation
tensions over water among the causes of the conflict. need to be addressed anew and with greater urgency at the
level of the UN General Assembly, the GOWP would develop the
In other words, the Observatory’s role with respect to potential appropriate communication materials in collaboration with the
inter-state disputes would be indirect. Knowledge management, relevant actors within and outside the UN System, including but
discreet consultations aiming to strengthen communication, not limited to such programs and agencies as UNESCO, WMO,
assistance in securing financing for transboundary water UNEP, UNDP, UNHCR, the World Bank and others working on the
projects and other similar activities can be helpful in preventing promotion of water as a factor of peace.
full-fledged disputes from evolving. In addition, the Observatory
would have the capacity to address local concerns through When armed conflicts with significant water-related elements as
professional analysis and advice that expands beyond the scope a cause of conflict do occur, the Global Observatory for Water
of transboundary cooperation. and Peace would help the UN Security Council to include the
protection of water resources and installations adequately in
The Global Observatory for Water and Peace will likely face efforts to protect civilians, as well as in the Security Council’s
typical dispute situations that involve disagreement and lack efforts in peacemaking, peacekeeping and post-conflict peace
of confidence among states, and would concentrate on low building.
threshold situations. Depending on the needs of the parties,
the Observatory might help in facilitating fact finding and good
offices, while other more direct forms of dispute settlement
would be dealt with by existing mechanisms.

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