World Water Forum
Brasilia 2018
Introduction
From March 18 to 23 in 2018, thousands of participants from governments, parliaments, international organisations, academia, civil society and the private sector gathered in Brasilia, Brazil, for the 8th World Water Forum.
Held for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere, the Forum took place at a crucial moment of accelerating climate impacts, urbanisation pressures and water scarcity. It became the largest water-related event ever organised, convening more than 120 national delegations and over 100,000 people in both official sessions and the accompanying Citizens’ Village.
Building on the Forum’s legacy as a platform for dialogue, the 8th edition also emphasised participation and inclusivity, giving greater voice to citizens, youth, indigenous peoples and local communities.
8th World Water Forum: “Sharing Water”
Under the theme “Sharing Water”, the Brasilia Forum highlighted the necessity of cooperation and solidarity in managing water resources across boundaries: political, sectoral and generational. The Forum underscored that water must be treated not only as a vital resource but also as a common good requiring common stewardship.
The Forum placed strong emphasis on linking water to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly the achievement of SDG 6 on water and sanitation. It promoted integration across other goals, including poverty reduction, food and energy security, climate action and biodiversity protection.
Six major processes structured the discussions during the Forum: Thematic, Political, Regional, Citizen, Sustainability Focus Group and the Business Day. Together, they created a space where political leaders, experts, civil society and the private sector could exchange knowledge, commit to joint action and inspire new partnerships.
“The term of “water-related disasters” is now commonly adopted. On our planet, billions of inhabitants are suffering from these crises every day. Our behaviour, our mistakes, our selfishness are the main causes.”
Highlights of the 8th World Water Forum
Political commitment: “An Urgent Call for Decisive Action”
The Ministerial Declaration, entitled “An Urgent Call for Decisive Action on Water”, showed the commitment of governments to accelerating action in five priority areas.
Citizens and stakeholders' participation
The Brasilia Forum was also groundbreaking for the inclusion of citizens and civil society. A Citizens’ Process engaged youth, women, indigenous peoples and grassroots organisations, culminating in the “Citizens’ Declaration.” The Citizens’ village, visited by more than 100,000 people, provided an open space for dialogue, education and cultural exchange around water issues.
A multi-layered political process
Beyond the ministerial level, the political process also mobilised parliamentarians, local and regional authorities and the judiciary. Besides a parliamentary statement and a set of recommendations, local and regional authorities produced the Brasilia local authorities and regional governments Declaration”. Finally, the Forum engaged the Judiciary through the “Judges and Prosecutors Declaration on Water Justice,” recognising the critical role of legal systems in upholding the human right to water and sanitation.
What can we remember from this forum?
The 8th World Water Forum in Brasilia established itself as a landmark in inclusivity and political engagement. It was the first Forum to host a judicial process and the Citizens’ Village set a precedent for citizen participation in global water governance.
The Ministerial Declaration provided a strong political framework, while the complementary declarations of parliamentarians, local authorities and judges extended commitment across governance levels. The Forum thus consolidated water as a transversal issue of peace, justice and sustainable development.
Importantly, the Forum also highlighted nature-based solutions as central to tackling global water challenges, anticipating the role they would later play in climate and biodiversity agendas. By aligning political commitments with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Brasilia Forum ensured that water would remain a key dimension of global monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
The Forum was marked by a remarkable level of political engagement, with twelve Heads of State, more than 100 ministerial delegations and representatives from parliaments, municipalities and the judiciary.
At its heart stood the Ministerial Declaration, entitled “An Urgent Call for Decisive Action on Water”. This declaration committed governments to accelerating action in five priority areas:
- Combating water scarcity and securing universal access.
- Strengthening institutional accountability and governance frameworks.
- Mobilizing financial resources and innovative funding mechanisms.
- Promoting nature-based solutions for resilience and sustainability.
- Enhancing transboundary water cooperation to prevent conflicts and foster peace.
The Declaration was explicitly connected to the 2030 Agenda, ensuring that progress on water would be systematically monitored by the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Complementing this, Ministerial Roundtables focused on six themes (climate, people, development, urban, ecosystems and finance) and enabled governments to exchange best practices and shape collective responses.
For the first time in the history of the World Water Forum, judicial stakes regarding water were highlighted. The judiciary was formally engaged through the Judges and Prosecutors Declaration on Water Justice, a groundbreaking step in recognising the rule of law as a cornerstone of water governance. Endorsed by judges, prosecutors and legal experts from around the world, the declaration underscored that water and sanitation are not only policy issues but also legally enforceable human rights. It emphasised the responsibility of judicial institutions to guarantee access to justice in water-related cases, to uphold constitutional and international obligations, while ensuring the accountability of both public authorities and private actors. The declaration also called for the development of specialised judicial training, the exchange of jurisprudence across countries and the strengthening of legal frameworks to prevent water-related conflicts and environmental crimes. By placing water justice firmly within the mandate of courts and legal systems, this declaration expanded the scope of the Forum’s political impact, ensuring that the protection of water rights is not left solely to political will but reinforced by binding legal authority.
The Parliamentary Statement reaffirmed the crucial role of legislators in translating global water goals into tangible national realities. Bringing together 134 parliamentarians from more than 20 countries, the statement emphasised that water must be a political priority in national legislatures, budgets and oversight functions. It placed a strong focus on advancing the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, urging parliaments to enshrine these rights in national legislation and to secure regular parliamentary debates on water issues. The Statement also underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation, encouraging the strengthening of the International Network of Parliamentarians for Water to facilitate legislative exchange and collaboration across borders.
The Local and Regional Authorities (LRA) Declaration showcased the critical role of cities, municipalities and subnational governments in delivering water and sanitation services on the ground. Attended by over 300 participants, including 180 mayors, governors and local representatives, the conference recognised that local authorities are often at the frontlines of water challenges, from urban resilience to climate adaptation. The Declaration underlined five key priorities: integrating water into local development agendas; using legislation as a tool for prioritising water quality and sanitation; mobilising decentralised funding and innovative finance mechanisms; promoting urban resilience through climate mitigation and adaptation measures; and strengthening the governance capacity of local governments and citizens. A practical guide, “Start with Water: Putting Water on Local Action Agendas to Support Global Change,” was launched to provide case studies, recommendations and tools for cities worldwide. Building on earlier commitments such as the Istanbul Water Consensus and the Daegu Water Action, the Brasília LRA Declaration underscored that sustainable water management depends not only on global frameworks but also on strong and innovative action at the local level.
A strong political commitment: the Ministerial Declaration
The Forum was marked by a remarkable level of political engagement, with twelve Heads of State, more than 100 ministerial delegations and representatives from parliaments, municipalities and the judiciary.
At its heart stood the Ministerial Declaration, entitled “An Urgent Call for Decisive Action on Water”. This declaration committed governments to accelerating action in five priority areas:
- Combating water scarcity and securing universal access.
- Strengthening institutional accountability and governance frameworks.
- Mobilizing financial resources and innovative funding mechanisms.
- Promoting nature-based solutions for resilience and sustainability.
- Enhancing transboundary water cooperation to prevent conflicts and foster peace.
The Declaration was explicitly connected to the 2030 Agenda, ensuring that progress on water would be systematically monitored by the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Complementing this, Ministerial Roundtables focused on six themes (climate, people, development, urban, ecosystems and finance) and enabled governments to exchange best practices and shape collective responses.
The Judges and Prosecutors’ Declaration on Water Justice
For the first time in the history of the World Water Forum, judicial stakes regarding water were highlighted. The judiciary was formally engaged through the Judges and Prosecutors Declaration on Water Justice, a groundbreaking step in recognising the rule of law as a cornerstone of water governance. Endorsed by judges, prosecutors and legal experts from around the world, the declaration underscored that water and sanitation are not only policy issues but also legally enforceable human rights. It emphasised the responsibility of judicial institutions to guarantee access to justice in water-related cases, to uphold constitutional and international obligations, while ensuring the accountability of both public authorities and private actors. The declaration also called for the development of specialised judicial training, the exchange of jurisprudence across countries and the strengthening of legal frameworks to prevent water-related conflicts and environmental crimes. By placing water justice firmly within the mandate of courts and legal systems, this declaration expanded the scope of the Forum’s political impact, ensuring that the protection of water rights is not left solely to political will but reinforced by binding legal authority.
Several levels of political commitment: a Parliamentary statement and the Local and Regional Authorities Declaration
For the first time in the history of the World Water Forum, judicial stakes regarding water were highlighted. The judiciary was formally engaged through the Judges and Prosecutors Declaration on Water Justice, a groundbreaking step in recognising the rule of law as a cornerstone of water governance. Endorsed by judges, prosecutors and legal experts from around the world, the declaration underscored that water and sanitation are not only policy issues but also legally enforceable human rights. It emphasised the responsibility of judicial institutions to guarantee access to justice in water-related cases, to uphold constitutional and international obligations, while ensuring the accountability of both public authorities and private actors. The declaration also called for the development of specialised judicial training, the exchange of jurisprudence across countries and the strengthening of legal frameworks to prevent water-related conflicts and environmental crimes. By placing water justice firmly within the mandate of courts and legal systems, this declaration expanded the scope of the Forum’s political impact, ensuring that the protection of water rights is not left solely to political will but reinforced by binding legal authority.
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