Women for water warrior: “It is high time to honour existing agreements and move from dialogue to implementation”

Alice Bouman-Dentener is a biologist/ethologist from the Netherlands who has won international acclaim for her expertise on water governance, social inclusion and gender. Her direct work on United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) dates back to her time as Secretary General of the Netherlands Council of Women (2002–2011). She founded the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) in 2004 and served as its President for 10 years, during which it developed into the leading women’s civil society network in the water domain, spanning close to 100 countries. Most recently, she co-founded Cansu Global uniting academia, private sector and governments as critical enablers for water inclusive, climate smart and gender-sensitive development action. She serves as a Member of the International Advisory Committee of the Dushanbe Water Process, and is the Vice-President of the Water Research and Training Centre International Foundation (WRTC).

1. How do you see access to water governance intersecting with the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts?

Peace and security is not only about state security – protecting a society against war and violence; it is equally about human security – creating the conditions for people to live a healthy, dignified and meaningful life. I strongly believe that human security leads to social stability and prevents conflict. Water is essential for people’s health, well-being and development – both directly, through human consumption, and indirectly, through its use in food and energy production and other industrial activities – and it sustains the diverse ecosystems that we depend on. So, for me, human security starts with water security, although it is not explicitly mentioned in UNSCR 1325. But it is embedded in the WPS agenda where the root causes of conflict are addressed.

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) was agreed in 1992 by UN Member States as the way forward to achieve water security for all, whereby the pivotal role of women in the provision, management and safeguarding of water was put square and centre as one of the four guiding principles (Rio/Dublin Principle 3).

2. How can grass-roots women’s water networks be integrated into formal peace and security processes?

Over the years I have spent in different countries and on different continents, I have seen first-hand how having a say in water management empowers women and lifts entire communities out of poverty. But also, how women are primarily seen as victims and disadvantaged rather than the agents of change that they are or can be.

Through the Women for Water Partnership, we have harnessed the collective power of women’s civil society in all its diversity so that women and their organizations are adequately positioned and supported to take the development of their different communities into their own hands. The network spans over 100 countries and member organizations spanning more or less the entire spectrum and cutting across all layers and segments in society. Collectively, they represent a mechanism to work simultaneously on international agenda-setting, on shaping national policies and supporting actual implementation on the ground.

Using the social capital of the Women’s Major Group is an effective tool to bridge between policy and practice, and to ensure that implementation is needs-based and evidence-informed.

3. Do we need a ‘new water governance paradigm’?

Let me say first and foremost that using water as a weapon of war is an atrocity and can never be condoned. During armed conflicts, water provision is often affected both in terms of availability and quality. Post-conflict reconstruction presents an opportunity to build back better and create a new water governance paradigm.

I do not think we really need a new water paradigm. We just need to enforce IWRM, the water governance paradigm agreed by the UN Member States already in 1992. And to tailor its principles to local realities. This would imply a focus on SDG17 – partnerships for the goals. Governments and the international community should seriously invest in creating the enabling environment for local action partnerships to do their work. 

I am saddened to see how the admirable progress towards water security achieved by women’s organizations such as Mama 86 in Ukraine and Water Mothers in Myanmar through decades of hard work is destroyed by those who choose the path of armed conflict. My thoughts are with our sisters every day.

4. What lessons from water diplomacy can strengthen women’s roles in peace processes?

Even if women are present in meetings, that does not necessarily mean that their voice is heard, or that they feel confident and free to speak their mind. To realize inclusive water governance, one has to pre-invest in sociocultural acceptance and in building leadership that can transform traditional norms. Strengthening existing women’s networks has proven its worth; they know how to address challenges and evoke change within the sociocultural boundaries of their community. And joining women’s voices internationally gives the power of the numbers.

5. What advice or message would you offer young women to lead in this field?

As far as I’m concerned, international agreements and frameworks are sufficiently in place. It is high time to honour existing agreements and move from dialogue to implementation. We have common but differentiated responsibilities to create a world in which we can all live together in harmony and peace, sharing the wealth of the Earth and respecting planetary boundaries. And the time to act is now.

My advice to young women in the field is: Make sure that you know the reality on the ground; listen and observe and get your hands and feet dirty. Learn and incorporate the wisdom of the grass roots in scientific knowledge and policy frameworks. Because there is still a huge disconnect between policy and practice.

This story is published as part of "The Past, Present, and Future of Women, Peace, and Security" campaign, commemorating the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, to celebrate the power of peace. The campaign aims to foster a deeper dialogue on equality, justice and peace, honoring the legacies and amplifying the voices of 25 trailblazing women from across Europe and Central Asia whose significant contributions have transformed their communities, societies, and beyond. The content reflects the personal views and experiences of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the official position of UN Women, its partners, or the United Nations.