18th Meeting of the Group of Friends on Water and Peace

This event is only open to Permanent missions to the United Nations offices in Geneva. 

Please submit your application to attend this session to Mr. Quentin Parent (qparent[at]genevawaterhub.org).

Since the publication of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace report “A Matter of Survival”, several initiatives and models have emerged to reinforce the role that women can play in peace processes with regards to water. They include for example the “Women in Water Diplomacy Network”, “Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa” or the “Mujeres Aguas Arriba” in the Latin American & Caribbean region. Nevertheless, more reflection is needed from the peace community on means to incorporate women in water diplomacy and peace processes. This meeting of the Group of Friends on Water and Peace will focus on the current work being done and the paths forward.

The guiding questions will focus on developing ways to recognize women as agents of change; this will include approaches that can help surpass stereotypes of women’s role in water and peace processes:

• What is the current impact and the role of women in water diplomacy in times of tensions, fragility, violences, and armed conflicts?
• What models exists with regards to the participation of women in water diplomacy processes?
• What measures are in place to leverage the participation of women in policy and decisions-making with regards to water resources, at the local, regional, and transboundary level? More specifically, how can we ensure changes in less prominent areas?
• What is the path forward with regards to the inclusion of women in water and peace?

This event is organized in collaboration with Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

The final concept note and programme are available below.