UN Experts Condemn Threats Leading to Cancellation of People’s Water Forum

According to the experts, local organizers of the PWF have faced harassment and intimidation by various actors, including the police and army, since the beginning of May.

UN independent experts have expressed deep concern over reports of threats and intimidation directed towards human rights and water defenders, civil society organizations, and academics, leading to the cancellation of the People’s Water Forum (PWF), a parallel event to the World Water Forum (WWF) held in Bali from 18-25 May.

According to the experts, local organizers of the PWF have faced harassment and intimidation by various actors, including the police and army, since the beginning of May. On 21 May, masked individuals violently interrupted a PWF press conference, surrounding a hotel where Indonesian human rights and water defenders and civil society members were staying, preventing them from leaving and accessing essentials.

The experts emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that the group was able to storm the hotel and hold activists hostage with the acquiescence of the police stationed outside. The cancellation of the PWF occurred after pressure was exerted on professors and university institutions to withdraw their premises for related activities, marking the first cancellation of the event in 20 years.

The PWF serves as a platform for water justice movements worldwide, offering an alternative space to the triennial World Water Forum. While both forums historically coexisted with mutual respect despite differing approaches, the balance has now been disrupted, with critical views stifled.

Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, who was invited to the PWF, faced harassment and intimidation during his stay in Bali, especially when attempting to visit Indonesian human rights and water defenders held hostage in the hotel.

The UN experts stressed the importance of enabling mandate holders to carry out their duties without fear of intimidation, highlighting the chilling effect of harassment on freedom of expression. They expressed particular concern for the safety of local organizers and academics now that international actors have departed.

The experts called on the Indonesian government to uphold its duty to ensure the safety of all individuals, including activists and defenders, and to safeguard their rights to peaceful assembly and association.