WYCJ at the World Water Conference of the United Nations
The UN Water Conference hosted by Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands was the first international governmental event in 50 years, and focused on international collaboration on shared water resources, water and sustainable development, water pollution, ecosystem restoration and community participation.
Water is the basis for all life and intrinsically linked to human rights and climate change. For World’s Youth for Climate Justice it was important to show up with an international delegation to draw attention to this nexus in New York, the week before the ICJ AO resolution will be brought before the UN General Assembly.
Our message was clear: Action on water needed to be at a level which meets state’s existing human rights obligations, taking into account the differentiated impacts of climate change.
During our days at the Conference, WYCJ joined official side-events at the UN Headquarters where ministers were attending, listened and learned from good practices, met like-minded young people and connected on the human rights aspect of all issues relating to water, as well as participated in side-events outside the UNHQ. We had the opportunity to share the International Court of Justice Advisry Opinion as one avenue to enhance action on water taking into account intergenerational equity and sustainable development.
WYCJ was invited to join a youth panel on the importance of Water heritage and the water action agenda set out by the UN. WYCJ also had the oppertunity to host and moderate a session on Water Heritage and Youth at Columbia University with various young professionals from the MENA region that are working in the water sector. These young people from Jordan and Palestine participated in a dialogue that delved deeper into the problems young people from this region face. WYCJ hopes to expand its presence in the MENA region and is looking forward to support young campaigners in their efforts.
“Youth attaining water sustainability for building peace” held at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice. This event was organized Ágora, Peace Boat
Read more coverage on the water conference here:
5 Things you should know about the UN Water Conference (UN News)
Outcomes: UN 2023 Water Conference ends with over 700 commitments to make world water-secure (Down to Earth)
First global water conference in 50 years yields hundreds of pledges, zero checks (The Guardian)
