UN Security Council: Arria-formula meeting on Protection of Civilians: Achieving a better protection of water-related essential services and infrastructure for the civilian[...]

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UN Security Council: Arria-formula meeting on Protection of Civilians: Achieving a better protection of water-related essential services and infrastructure for the civilian population during armed conflicts

22.03.2023 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in New York

22 March 2023, New York -- Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by H.E. Ambassador Silvio Gonzato, Deputy Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations at the Arria-formula meeting on Protection of Civilians: Achieving a better protection of water-related essential services and infrastructure for the civilian population during armed conflicts

President,

All protocols observed,

I am honoured to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina*, the potential candidate country Georgia, align themselves with this statement.

Ensuring the protection of civilians remains a top priority for the European Union. The impact of armed conflict on water resources has been significant in many contexts, including in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Libya. As humanitarian crises have become more numerous and complex, violations of international humanitarian law have also continued to increase, which have caused undue suffering to civilian populations.

Water and sanitation facilities are critical, and to the fulfilment of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. Damage to water-related ecosystems or infrastructure, or disruption of services, have devastating consequences on health, education, and livelihoods, and can also drive displacement. Lack of water can impact food insecurity. Women and children are particularly impacted by disruption of WASH services.

The EU is strongly committed to protecting populations in vulnerable situations, as well as promoting respect for and compliance with IHL. The EU, together with its Member States, is one of the leading international donors of development and humanitarian aid for water and sanitation.

The EU is also engaged in the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Framework initiative of the Strategy. The EU recognizes that climate change can exacerbate water scarcity. As the world's biggest contributor of climate and biodiversity finance, the EU supports disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action, adaptation, and mitigation efforts.

On the occasion of the 2023 UN Water Conference, the EU proposed to take on voluntary commitments on the safety and security of water resources, personnel, and infrastructure, through advocating for compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights laws. We have addressed this at an event during the European Humanitarian Forum, which took place earlier this week in Brussels.

Let me conclude by saying that the European Union remains committed to protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure in times of conflict, especially related to the essential services that water resources provide.

Thank you.

*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.