Shivi Development Society Organises UNHRC Side Event on Community Water Rights and Indus Waters Treaty

Shivi Development Society (SDS) organised a side event on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, bringing together international experts and human rights advocates to discuss community water rights, transboundary water governance and the future of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The event, titled “Community Water Rights and the Imperative to Keep the Indus Water Treaty in Abeyance,” was held on September 17, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Hotel Royal Manotel on Rue de Lausanne in Geneva, Switzerland.

The discussions focused on the changing circumstances surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty, particularly the decision in 2025 to keep the agreement in abeyance. Participants examined a range of issues linked to the Indus Basin, including growing water scarcity, demographic changes, climate vulnerability and increasing pressure on shared water resources. The speakers also discussed the broader implications of managing rivers that cross international boundaries. The conversation covered regional water governance, emerging hydropolitical tensions and the importance of developing approaches that ensure sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient access to water.

According to a press note released after the programme, participants expressed support for India's decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. They argued that the issue needs to be considered not only from the perspective of bilateral relations but also in connection with India's security concerns and the interests of communities dependent on the Indus river system.

Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at the South Asia Democratic Forum in Brussels, said India was within its sovereign rights to seek a review of the 1960 treaty. He argued that, in his assessment, Pakistan's conduct had affected what he described as the agreement's object, purpose and spirit. Wolf also discussed what he characterised as structural imbalances in the treaty, referring to the allocation of Indus waters, India's financial contribution to the Indus Development Fund and restrictions associated with storage and infrastructure. He also referred to disputes concerning Indian hydropower projects, including Baglihar, Kishenganga and Ratle.

On Pakistan's concerns over Indian projects on the western rivers, Wolf rejected the claim that India was simply blocking the flow of water. He described this as an “engineering myth” and argued that the Indian hydropower projects concerned are primarily non-consumptive, with water continuing downstream after power generation. Wolf further pointed to domestic factors behind Pakistan's water challenges, including agricultural practices, landholding patterns, urbanisation and ageing canal infrastructure.

London-based human rights activist Arif Aajakia emphasised the importance of access to water as a fundamental human right. He raised concerns about the distribution of water resources within Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, and connected the wider debate to longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan. Mamun Rahman, a Geneva-based human rights expert associated with the International Forum for Secular Bangladesh, highlighted questions surrounding the distribution of natural resources within Pakistan. He argued that water-sharing discussions should also take into account the concerns of communities in provinces such as Sindh and Balochistan.

Rahman called for a broader discussion on transboundary water governance, noting that decisions involving shared rivers can have significant consequences for communities located on both sides of national borders.

Lakhu Luvana, Chairperson of the World Sindhi Congress in London, said communities in Sindh and Balochistan have longstanding concerns regarding the use and distribution of natural resources, including water. He argued that these concerns extend beyond the functioning or existence of any particular bilateral treaty. The event was chaired by Narender Kumar, Executive Director of Shivi Development Society, who said the debate over the Indus Waters Treaty should not be restricted to the relationship between India and Pakistan. Kumar said the issue also involves recognising the water rights and legitimate needs of communities that depend on the Indus river system, including those in India.

“The question of keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is not only about a bilateral agreement between two countries. It is also about recognizing the rights and legitimate water needs of local communities that depend on the Indus river system, including communities in India,” Kumar said. He emphasised the importance of placing human rights, equitable access to water, community participation and sustainable water management at the centre of discussions concerning transboundary rivers.

The Geneva side event brought together the treaty debate and wider concerns surrounding water scarcity, climate change, demographic pressures, community rights and regional water governance in the Indus Basin. The listed speakers included Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf of the South Asia Democratic Forum, Arif Aajakia, human rights activist from London, Biro Diawara of RADDHO and Interfaith International in Geneva, and Dr. Lakhu Luvana of the World Sindhi Congress in London, subject to confirmation. Narender Kumar of Shivi Development Society served as the moderator.