21st Meeting of the Group of Friends on Water and Peace

Yesterday we held the 21st Meeting of the Group of Friends on Water and Peace at the Geneva Press Club, focusing on International Geneva and its contribution to the 2026 UN Water Conference.

With opening remarks by Amb. Anita Pipan, a keynote by H.E. Retno L.P. Marsudi, and a panel moderated by Prof. Mark Zeitoun, the meeting explored how Geneva’s unique ecosystem of humanitarian, peacebuilding, and environmental actors can shape the future global water architecture.

Discussions highlighted the critical links between SDG 6 (water & sanitation) and SDG 16 (peace, justice & strong institutions), reaffirming water’s role not only in sustainable development but also as a lever for peace and stability.

A big thank you to our panelists Javier Cordoba (ICRC) and Annyssa Bellal (Geneva Peacebuilding Platform), and to all participants (including over 40 representatives and ambassadors) for contributing to this important dialogue.

Together, we are building momentum towards the 2026 UN Water Conference to ensure water is recognized as a fundamental enabler of peace, resilience, and sustainable development.

👉 Learn more about the Group of Friends on Water and Peace here: www.genevawaterhub.org/what-we-do/shaping-law-and-policy/group-friends-water-and-peace