Lower Riparian Nations Unite for Water Justice: Launch of the Global Lower Riparian Association (LRA)
Issued from Lahore, Pakistan | October 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A landmark global initiative has been launched to bring together 47 lower riparian nations under a unified legal and technical framework—the Lower Riparian Association (LRA)—to safeguard their collective rights over shared transboundary water resources.
The initiative is being led by Huzaima & Ikram Law Associates, headed by Dr. Ikramul Haq, Advocate, Supreme Court of Pakistan, in collaboration with Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi, a distinguished transboundary water and energy expert. Together, they seek to transform decades of fragmented advocacy into a cohesive, legally grounded movement for water equity and sovereignty.
Background
Across the globe, lower riparian countries—those located downstream of shared river systems—depend heavily on the flow of rivers originating in upper riparian states. The increasing construction of upstream dams, diversions, and hydropower projects has led to rising concerns about water security, ecosystem damage, and geopolitical tension.
While international law recognises the rights of downstream nations under frameworks such as the:
- UN Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997)
- UNECE Water Convention (1992)
- Helsinki Rules (1966)
The absence of a joint institutional platform has left many lower riparian states vulnerable to unilateral decisions by upstream counterparts.
Mandate and Functions of the LRA
The Lower Riparian Association (LRA) will serve as a global legal and policy body with the following objectives:
Interpretation of International Law and Judgments
The LRA will provide expert legal assistance in interpreting and applying decisions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), and other international tribunals relevant to transboundary water disputes.
Formulation of New Treaties and Legal Frameworks
The Association will assist member countries in drafting, negotiating, and updating modern transboundary water treaties, ensuring compliance with principles of equitable and reasonable utilization and no significant harm.
Advocacy and Representation
The LRA will represent the collective voice of lower riparian nations in global forums such as UN-Water, UNECE, FAO, and the Global Water Partnership (GWP).
Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building
The Association will help member states enhance their hydrological data-sharing, water management technologies, and negotiation capacities.
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
By promoting legal dialogue and basin-level cooperation, the LRA aims to transform potential conflicts into frameworks for shared development and peace.
Quotes
“The Lower Riparian Association will be the first international platform to translate water law into water justice. We will bridge the gap between international legal principles and the realities faced by downstream nations.”
“We will empower member countries to not only interpret global legal judgments but also to negotiate fair, climate-resilient treaties that protect their future generations.”
Next Steps
The First Global Conference of Lower Riparian Nations will be convened in early 2026, hosted in Lahore, Pakistan. The conference will adopt:
- The Global Lower Riparian Charter
- Establish the Transboundary Legal Observatory
- Initiate a Drafting Committee for Model Water Treaties to be shared with the UN and relevant international bodies
About the Founding Institutions
Huzaima & Ikram Law Associates (Lahore, Pakistan) is a leading international law and policy firm headed by Dr. Ikramul Haq, Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi is an internationally recognized authority on transboundary water and energy systems, with decades of research and advisory experience with governments and multilateral institutions.
Contact
Huzaima & Ikram Law Associates155, Block G-III, Phase-II, Irtaza Road, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan
📞 +92-42-35300721
✉️ info@huzaimakramlaw.com