India Water Foundation (IWF) made significant
contributions at the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC), being held in Geneva from 8th September to 8th October 2025 by
organising official side events and making oral interventions. .
IWF organised a High-Level Policy Dialogue
titled “From Periphery to Mainstream: North East India’s Development Pathways”
on 12 September at Palais des Nations, bringing together policymakers, experts,
and UN representatives to showcase Northeast India’s transformation from a
peripheral region to a dynamic growth corridor. Distinguished participants
included Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, Director at UN ESCAP’s South & Southwest Asia
Office; Dr. Arvind Kumar, President, India Water Foundation; Prof. Eddy Moors,
Rector, IHE Delft; Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD; Mr. Vinod
Mishra, UNOPS India Country Manager; (Moderator) Ms. Shweta Tyagi, Chief
Functionary of IWF; and Mr. Satheesh Kumar Damodaran, Swiss Government IT
professional. The speakers collectively highlighted how the region’s
development journey exemplifies the integration of connectivity,
sustainability, and community participation. They underscored landmark
achievements such as Sikkim’s transition into the world’s first fully organic
state, Mizoram’s full literacy attainment, and Assam’s establishment of South
Asia’s largest cancer care network.
They echoed the need for community-driven,
inclusive development that balances infrastructure expansion with ecological
conservation and human welfare. The importance of regional cooperation,
cross-border trade facilitation, knowledge sharing, and disaster risk reduction
was widely recognized. Experts emphasized the role of women’s leadership,
digital tools, and multi-level partnerships in accelerating progress, while
insisting that climate resilience be central to development planning.
During the 7th meeting focusing on the
Interactive Dialogue of Expert Mechanism on Right to Development Dr. Arvind
Kumar, President, India Water Foundation also delivered a powerful intervention
accusing global north as a historical polluter. He called for advancing
discussions on equitable development, climate action, and human rights
reinforcing that climate justice is integral to development efforts. “Climate
action must be gender-responsive, adequately funded, and rooted in
international solidarity,” he stated. Dr. Kumar called for equitable sharing of
the burdens and benefits of climate action, especially for nations that
contribute minimally to emissions but bear severe impacts highlighting the
historical responsibility of the Global North.
Dr. Kumar elaborated on India’s initiatives
that embed gender equality in development, citing programs that promote women’s
leadership in water governance, renewable energy adoption, and
climate-resilient agriculture. The National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change
supports community-led solutions, while targeted financing enables women
farmers and entrepreneurs to adopt sustainable practices.
He urged the international community to scale
up climate finance beyond the USD 100 billion commitment, ensuring that
developing nations can pursue low-carbon, climate-resilient pathways without
compromising growth and social equity. Dr. Kumar also reaffirmed India’s
commitment to South-South cooperation, sharing affordable technologies,
disaster risk reduction expertise, and capacity-building initiatives.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Kumar
emphasized that climate justice must move from principle to practice: “Our
collective efforts must ensure that climate justice is not an abstract ideal
but a practical reality accessible, equitable, and effective in safeguarding
the planet while advancing the Right to Development for all.”
Together, the side event and Dr. Kumar’s
intervention spotlighted Northeast India’s role as a strategic gateway to ASEAN
and BIMSTEC economies and demonstrated India’s leadership in promoting climate
justice, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. The discussions
underscored that partnerships, solidarity, and community-driven action are
indispensable to addressing global challenges.