DUSHANBE, 01.29.2024 /NIAT “Khovar”/. The third high-level international conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” will be held in Dushanbe in June as part of the global initiatives of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, on water and climate issues. The conference is planned to be attended by heads of state and government of some countries of the world, influential regional and international organizations.
The attaché of the Department of Foreign Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dilangez Sherova, told the NIAT Khovar correspondent about the features and distinctive directions of the previous two water conferences, sessions and panels of the Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” .
— Please tell us about the features and distinctive directions of the previous two water conferences that were held in Dushanbe.
— “Dushanbe Water Process” is an initiative of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, to support the implementation of the goals of the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028”, which is carried out by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the UN international conferences once every two years.
To date, two high-level conferences dedicated to the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” have been successfully held in Dushanbe.
In June 2018, the first Dushanbe Conference dedicated to the Decade of Water Action was held in Dushanbe. During his speech, the Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan, the respected Emomali Rahmon, emphasized that the process of developing and promoting a new resolution of the UN General Assembly on the mid-term review of the implementation of the Decade has provided an additional tool for further cooperation.
From 6 to 9 June 2022, the second high-level international conference was held in Dushanbe within the framework of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” entitled “Stimulating action and partnerships on water at local, national, regional and global levels” ” The conference was organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations and other partners, as a centerpiece of the subsequent UN Midterm Review Conference of the Water Decade.
The UN Water Conference was held at UN Headquarters from 22 to 24 March 2023, providing a unique opportunity to accelerate progress towards achieving universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. The co-chairs were the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, and the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander. The conference was attended by representatives of all levels of government, as well as scientists, representatives of civil society, the private sector and youth.
Thus, these conferences are review ones, providing ample opportunities for government and public circles to discuss the process of implementing the goals of the Decade, achievements and identifying issues for next steps.
— What is significant about the Third Conference, which will be held in 2024 in Dushanbe?
— The third high-level international conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” will be held from 10 to 13 June 2024 in Dushanbe.
The Dushanbe Conference on the Water Decade of Action is another in a series of conferences held every two years by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the UN to support the implementation of the goals of the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028”.
As part of the Third Dushanbe Conference on the Water Decade of Action, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan aims to provide a platform for tracking, promoting and supporting the implementation of voluntary commitments registered in the UN Water Conference Water Agenda for Action, as well as stimulating new partnerships and accelerating action to achieve the goals of the Agenda in the field of sustainable development for the period until 2030.
It is worth noting that this is one of the country’s accepted obligations, voiced by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan on the sidelines of the UN Water Conference. As a result of the conference, the water agenda has become a higher priority at the global level, and the Dushanbe conference will allow us to discuss this progress, identify gaps and develop recommendations for further action regarding water resources.
— As you know, Tajikistan, being the initiator of most of the resolutions of the UN General Assembly on water issues, actively promotes water issues on the global agenda. What important international events on water issues were held during these years?
— The Government of Tajikistan, seeking to continue to provide a platform for policy dialogue, partnership and action, with the support of the UN, organizes and hosts high-level international conferences throughout the Water Decade of Action, creating the so-called “Dushanbe Water Process”.
The biennial conferences of the Dushanbe Water Process provide timely and valuable opportunities to build an enabling environment and provide a platform for supporting action, expanding partnerships, policy dialogue, reviewing implementation of the Decade program, and developing linkages with other relevant processes.
Also being the initiator of most UN General Assembly resolutions on water issues, Tajikistan actively promotes water issues on the global agenda. In this context, the Government of Tajikistan, in cooperation with the UN and other international organizations, held the following important international events on water issues:
International Freshwater Forum, August 29 – September 1, 2003, Dushanbe;
International Conference on Regional Cooperation in Transboundary River Basins, May 30 – June 1, 2005, Dushanbe;
International Conference on Water-Related Disaster Risk Reduction, June 27-29, 2008, Dushanbe;
High-level international conference on the mid-term comprehensive review of the implementation of activities within the framework of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life, 2005-2015”, 8-10 June 2010, Dushanbe;
Preparatory conference “Towards the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20): Water Cooperation”, October 19-20, 2011, Dushanbe;
High-level International Conference on Water Cooperation, August 20-21, 2013, Dushanbe;
High-level international conference on the implementation of activities within the framework of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life, 2005-2015”, June 9-11, 2015, Dushanbe;
High-level symposium “SDG – Goal No. 6 and goals in this area: for everyone to have access to water and hygiene products”, August 9-10, 2016, Dushanbe;
High-level international conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028”, June 20-21, 2018, Dushanbe;
Second high-level international conference within the framework of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” entitled “Strengthening action and expanding partnerships to address water issues at local, national, regional and global levels”, June 2022, Dushanbe.
In this regard, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, in cooperation with the United Nations and other partners, will hold the Third High-Level International Conference in June 2024 within the framework of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028”.
— What water problems have been solved over the years?
— The International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” is the fourth global initiative of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, the announcement of this decade is considered one of the most important achievements of the Republic of Tajikistan in this area.
This decade is a great humanitarian initiative, the full implementation of which will improve the lives of billions of people on the planet and will raise the reputation of Tajikistan as the initiator of this initiative.
Thanks to the international initiatives of the Head of State, the respected Emomali Rahmon, in the field of water resources and ecology, Tajikistan over the past two decades has been able to attract the attention of the world community to solving issues related to water and ecology; during this period, several regional and global high-level conferences were held in Dushanbe.
— What sessions and panels will be held as part of the Third Conference?
— The main goal of the Third Dushanbe Conference on the Decade of Water Action is to further strengthen joint efforts and support the implementation of voluntary commitments contained in the UN Water Program of Action.
Another goal of the Dushanbe Conference is to share best practices and find innovative solutions, strengthen partnerships among stakeholders, enhance the role of water in sustainable development, raise awareness and mobilize political will to accelerate progress towards achieving the goals associated with the 2030 Agenda. and facilitating the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2024 and the preparatory process for the UN Water Conference in 2026.
In particular, the Third Dushanbe Conference on the Water Decade of Action will be devoted to the following issues:
— Providing e platforms to support the implementation of the goals and objectives of the International Water Decade for Action, as well as the decisions of the 2023 UN Water Conference;
— Providing updated information on the implementation of activities specified in the Final Declaration, the Co-Chairs’ Summary and the Call for Action and Partnership of the 2nd Dushanbe Conference on the Water Decade of Action;
— Accelerating the implementation of internationally agreed water-related goals and targets at regional and national levels, in particular through the Global Acceleration Framework for SDG 6;
— Promoting science-based solutions and tools, including data, technology and innovation;
— Improved capacity building, knowledge and education through the exchange of information and best practices;
— Demonstration of successful partnerships, advocacy and networking among stakeholders at all levels aimed at realizing the goals and objectives of the International Water Decade for Action;
— Strengthening cooperation at various levels by promoting dialogue, partnerships and cross-sectoral approaches.
The Third Dushanbe Conference on the Water Decade of Action will also be a mechanism to encourage governments, the United Nations and all other partners to translate intentions into actions and stimulate new commitments that will be recorded in the Water Action Agenda.
According to preliminary estimates, more than 1,500 people will take part in the Dushanbe conference. Using this opportunity, we will be able to introduce the world to the culture, history, customs and traditions of our people, the unique nature and new achievements of our country.
In this way, we can attract the attention of tourists, investors and people interested in history and culture in general, thereby we invite national manufacturing, tourism, craft companies, museums, points of sale of souvenirs and handicraft products, as well as a wide range of entrepreneurs to participate in they took advantage of this good opportunity. They can submit their proposals for organizing visits and trips of conference participants to their sites to the Conference Headquarters, which is located in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by phone: 227 68 43 or by writing to the email: secretary@dushanbewaterprocess.org.
More details https://dushanbewaterprocess.org/?lang=ru
Thank you very much.
Lailo TOIRI
NIAT “Khovar”
Source https://khovar.tj/rus/2024/01/tretya-dushanbinskaya-konferentsiya-po-mezhdunarodnomu-desyatiletiyu-dejstvij-stanet-mehanizmom-dlya-voploshheniya-namerenij-v-dejstvie-i-stimulirovaniya-prinyatiya-novyh -obyazatelstv/
