A) Objetivos de la promesa
With 120 active armed conflicts, civilians worldwide are trapped in warzones, forced from their homes, and deprived of essential needs such as food, water and medical care. One of the most devastating consequences of armed conflicts is the impact on water and sanitation services. Even partial or temporary disruptions to water supply systems – such as damage to power sources for water pumping stations or the destruction of pipelines – can endanger thousands, especially when compounded by climate change effects, forced displacement, and pre-existing vulnerabilities.
Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and a matter of survival, in particular in conflict zones. Stronger protection of freshwater resources and related infrastructure in armed conflict is urgently needed.
The impacts of armed conflict on the provision of water, namely on freshwater resources and related infrastructure, can take various forms. Attacks can directly affect infrastructure and supplies or prevent essential staff from managing, operating or repairing the infrastructure. In urban areas, the risks are even higher, as damage from explosive weapons to interconnected infrastructure amplifies the consequences on the provision of water. In protracted conflicts, cumulative effects of repeated attacks on already damaged water-related infrastructure can lead to irreversible collapse of the water and sanitation services.
The damage and destruction of water and sanitation services not only leaves millions without safe drinking water, it also impairs wastewater treatment, undermines the functioning of health services and food production, exacerbates environmental degradation, displacement and spreading of water-borne diseases.
As a civilian object, water is protected by principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution under international humanitarian law. Indiscriminate and disproportional attacks on water are prohibited under international humanitarian law. Apart from general protection of water as a civilian object, international humanitarian law grants specific protection to objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, including drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works.
Such attacks not only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, they also negatively impact international peace and security, and prolong the conflicts and their devastating consequences. The UN Security Council has reaffirmed the importance of protecting civilian infrastructure in resolution 2573 (2021) – Protection of Objects Indispensable to the Survival of the Civilian Population.
The objectives of this pledge are to advance national implementation of IHL and enhance wartime protection of freshwater and related infrastructure.
B) Plan de acción
Signatory States pledge to take as many as possible of the following actions:
- Enhance promotion of, respect for, and compliance with IHL, particularly in relation to freshwater resources and related infrastructure during armed conflicts by:
- consistently calling upon all parties to armed conflict to respect and ensure respect for IHL and to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with international law obligations, to ensure the protection of freshwater resources and related infrastructure in armed conflicts;
- upholding the fundamental principles guiding humanitarian action;
- supporting effective domestic implementation of IHL;
- advocating for the rights to access to safe drinking water and sanitation as fundamental human rights;
- using international, regional and national forums, platforms, partnerships or initiatives to increase awareness of international law that protects water in armed conflict and promote compliance (e.g. conferences, workshops, pledges, public websites).
- Incorporate IHL rules protecting water into military doctrine, education and training:
- generate and promote knowledge on the direct and indirect impacts and long-term consequences of attacks on water on civilian population;
- undertake training and capacity building for members of armed forces on the protection to freshwater resources and related infrastructure offered by international law;
- provide training to legal advisers to the armed forces or other relevant armed forces’ personnel on IHL rules;
- support the involvement of water specialists in the planning and in the impact assessment of military operations to minimise damage to water infrastructure during such operations.
- Strengthen the resilience of WASH infrastructure:
- work with humanitarian and development actors in peacetime in taking appropriate action to increase the resilience of water and sanitation infrastructure to sustain damage during armed conflict (special signage, decentralisation, building redundancies of energy supply etc.);
- map water and sanitation infrastructure and include them in the no-strike lists.
C) Indicadores para medir los avances:
- Activities undertaken by signatories that enhance promotion of, respect for and compliance with IHL, including in relation to freshwater resources and related infrastructure during armed conflicts, multilaterally, regionally, and bilaterally.
- Activities undertaken by signatories to incorporate IHL rules protecting water into military doctrine, education and training.
- Activities undertaken by signatories to include water specialists in the planning and in the impact assessment of military operations.
- Activities undertaken by signatories in cooperation with humanitarian and development actors in peacetime in taking action to increase the resilience of water and sanitation infrastructure.
D) Recursos requeridos:
N/A