WORKSHOP
Tuesday, April 21, 3:00 PM, Teatro Garibaldi
Water, beyond being a prominent topic in the news during extreme events such as floods and droughts that affect our territories, has itself become a victim of war. The “weaponization” of water in conflict settings is evident to all: dams are targeted, desalination plants are destroyed or threatened just like strategic sites that are typically military objectives.
At the same time, the United Nations has dedicated World Water Day 2026 to issues of gender and equality, calling for a fairer and more equitable distribution of water between men and women, especially in poor and rural contexts where women often bear the entire burden of water collection on their heads and shoulders.
Finally, beyond armed conflicts and gender inequalities in water access, there is the climate emergency. Once again: there can be no just transition without fair and equitable access to water for all, and without protecting water even during wartime, for the sake of civilian populations.
What have been—and what still are—the strategies to defend water as a common and public good, against its appropriation and privatization? Who are the activists, defenders, and organizations across the Mediterranean that are working, and have worked, to counter the privatization of this vital resource?
These are the issues we will explore at the Festival. The Heinrich Böll Foundation, together with the valuable collaboration of expert Francesca Greco, brings together experts and activists from across the Mediterranean to discuss challenges and solutions for a fair and responsible management of our most precious resource.
Speakers:
Katerina Georgiadou (Greece)
Sammy Kayed (Lebanon)
Dounia Mseffer (Morocco)
Muna Dajani (Palestine)
Emna Fourati (Tunisia)
Moderator: Francesca Greco
Simultaneous translation: Italian–French–Greek – English