Statement by the Delegation of Brazil during the Arria-formula meeting on “Achieving a better protection of water-related essential services and infrastructure for the civilian population during armed conflicts” - March 22nd, 2023

Mister President,

At first, let me congratulate Mozambique and Switzerland on the timely choice of the topic we are debating today. We would also like to thank the briefers for their insightful contributions. On the World Water Day, we must not forget that many people in the grip of conflict have been bereft of the very source of life.

Brazil associates itself to the statement to be delivered by the Dominican Republic on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Protection of Civilians and now speaks in its national capacity.

At the end of 2022, the International Committee of the Red Cross estimated that there were more than 100 armed conflicts in the world. Civilians are always those to suffer the most from the impact of conflict on water supplies. The development of international law provided the international community with rules not only about the prohibition of the use of force, but also on limits the Parties to a conflict must observe to protect the civilian population against the effects of hostilities when they break out.

In this sense, Article 54 of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions outlaws attacks on objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. As a result, attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless drinking water installations and supplies is a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

Even if for military gain during a conflict, the disruption of essential water-related services that may leave the civilian population with inadequate access to food or water as to cause its starvation or force its movement is also clearly prohibited by Article 54.

The Security Council brought an important contribution to enhance this protection by explicitly calling all parties to armed conflicts to refrain from targeting drinking water and installations supplies in resolution 2417. Moreover, it demanded them to distinguish and spare the civilian population and civilian objects in resolution 2573, which expressly refers to water and sanitation as essential services to be protected. By adopting resolution 2664 last December, it reinforced the ability of humanitarian providers to help ensure the provision of water services to civilians whose plight was compounded by sanctions regimes.

Mister President,

It is no coincidence that, as we all celebrate World Water Day, today we are also gathered, in these very UN Headquarters, for the UN Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”.

Brazil is convinced that the best approach to addressing water and environmental issues is to utilize the existing tools and mechanisms available under the United Nations development pillar and the relevant multilateral regimes, always bearing in mind their respective mandates. After all, it is within the framework of the sustainable development agenda that water and environmental issues at large should be addressed.

I thank you.