On January 19th, MIA-MGA at the UN attended an event titled "Water and Peace: A matter of survival" hosted by the International Peace Institute with the Geneva Water Hub .

The event began with Danilo Türk, the Chair of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace, discussing the fundamental nature of water. Water is a measure of survival and unfortunately, no Member State of the United Nations is immune to water challenges. We see the consequences with inadequate water management, rising water scarcity, and the need to articulate new ways in which the world will need to find food when our resources are diminished. In this time of global fragility, ensuring water cooperation among countries will in turn, become an "instrument of peace"; but how does one improve water cooperation?

As a means of aiding this conversation and strengthening the global framework on issues of water, the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace launched their report "A Matter of Survival". Their report includes topics such as international water law and trans-boundary water cooperation, strengthening knowledge-based and data driven decision making with water, inter-sectoral people's diplomacy, financial innovation, and new means of water diplomacy. Currently, the international response has been fragmented and this report can work as a mechanism towards coherence and action.

Panelists provided their insights of water management and cooperation within their native countries and professional experiences. Sundeep Waslekar, President of the Strategic Foresight Group detailed how "water cooperation is not only good for good water governance and sustainable development, but it is also essential for comprehensive peace and political stability". In addition, Mike Hammah, former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana reiterated the "undeniable fact that the lack of safe drinking water is not only a health issue but a security and development challenge as well", citing challenges and considerations from his own country.

Learn more about this report and the work of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace:

• Read 'A Matter of Survival: Report of the Global High Level Panel on Water and Peace' (112pps, PDF)
• Watch “Water and Peace: A Matter of Survival” (1:11:13)

Messages to: Angela Reed rsm - MIA Coordinator at the UN - Mercy Global Action