LETTER DATED 6 JULY 2018 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TAJIKISTAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
We, the participating representatives of states and organizations,
Recalling the United Nations General Assembly resolution 71/222 of 21 December
2016, by which it proclaimed the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable
Development”, 2018–2028 (hereinafter referred to as the “Water Action Decade”),
Also recalling the United Nations General Assembly resolution 70/1 of 25 Septem-
ber 2015, entitled “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop-
ment”, which reiterates the importance of “ensuring availability and sustainable manage-
ment of water and sanitation for all” as a Sustainable Development Goal to be achieved by
2030, the underpinning importance of water related issues in other goals and targets in order
to reach the overall Agenda and the centrality of the “No One Left Behind” principle,
Further recalling resolutions 68/157 of 18 December 2013 on the human right to
safe drinking water and sanitation and 70/169 of 17 December 2015 on the human rights to
safe drinking water and sanitation of the United Nations General Assembly,
Taking note of the efforts and extensive work carried out by the High-Level Panel
on Water,
Acknowledging the additional challenges facing countries with water scarcity and concerned
with the impacts of such challenges, including inter alia their ability to achieve the Sustain-
able Development Goals,
Highlighting the challenge of rapid population growth and the importance of water
management in disaster risk reduction in mitigating and adapting to climate change and in
ensuring ecosystem protection, particularly of watersheds in mountain areas, wetlands, del-
tas and in coastal zones, in order to increase the resilience of communities, and noting that
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water management can contribute, as applicable, to the implementation of relevant multilat-
eral agreements, such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and
the 2015 Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change,
Stressing the need to manage in an integrated and sustainable manner water re-
sources from source to sea around the water, food, energy and environment nexus, including
by promoting the concept of circular economy and other relevant solutions to reduce, recycle
and safely reuse water,
Expressing concern about the current and projected adverse impacts of climate
change on water resources and sanitation, as well as the challenges posed by pathogens,
nutrients and emerging pollutants, including pharmaceuticals and microplastics, that are
threatening human health and the quality of surface and groundwater,
Bearing in mind the need to implement integrated urban water management, includ-
ing sustainable waste management systems, in line with the New Urban Agenda, as part of
Integrated Water Resource Management, by implementing inter alia nature-based solutions,
decentralized wastewater management and improved rainwater management and harvesting,
Recognizing that, according to Sustainable Development Goal 6 Synthesis Report
2018 on Water and Sanitation, the world is not on track to achieve water-related Sustainable
Development Goals and targets at the global level by 2030 at the current rate of progress,
Recognizing that effective lake and river basin organizations, water planning and
target setting at the appropriate levels, including of drinking water supply and sanitation
safety, are key to the sustainable management of water resources and require coordination
of actors, development of infrastructure, benefit sharing and harmonization of national and
basin wide development agendas,
Recognizing that parliamentarians and citizens make an important contribution to
water governance alongside national governments, as well as regional and local authorities,
as applicable,
Reemphasizing the key role of women for the achievement of Sustainable Develop-
ment Goal 6, their insufficient representation in water-related decision-making processes
and among water professionals at all levels, the disproportionate burden carried by many
women and girls for water collection and use, their specific needs of safe water and sanita-
tion facilities and the need to create an enabling environment to address these issues,
Acknowledging the importance of ensuring water availability for civilians and pro-
tecting civilian water infrastructure and service delivery in the event of conflicts and natural
disasters, as well as for refugee and migrant populations living in informal or inadequate
housing,
Looking forward to the Mid-Term Review of the International Decade for Action
“Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, as an important milestone focused on the
goals of the Decade and water-related Sustainable Development Goals and targets,
Noting the ongoing efforts by UN-Water in responding to the expectations of the
international community, supporting the monitoring of the SDG 6 targets and providing co-
ordination among its members,
Also noting the possibility to create an International Center for the Water Action
Decade in Dushanbe with the support of the Government of Tajikistan and other interested
parties to sustain the process towards implementation of the goals of the Water Action Dec-
ade and the organization of Water Action Decade Conferences,
Hereby reiterate our determination to achieve the objectives of the Water Action
Decade and declare to:
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Promote, at the local, national, regional and global levels, opportunities for public
and private investment in infrastructure, including through the development of innovative
financial instruments and mechanisms, and seek to increase the efficiency of investment to
conserve and sustainably manage freshwater, wastewater and water contained in soil and
vegetation, support community-based efforts and develop non-conventional water resources,
such as water reuse and desalination;
Strengthen the capacities, resources and skills, as well as improve knowledge gen-
eration and exchange of practices, to support national and local governments in achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in those countries and for those people fur-
thest behind;
Make concentrated and coordinated efforts to build innovative, robust, flexible and
fair systems for source to sea Integrated Water Resources Management, to increase water
use efficiency and productivity, particularly in agriculture, energy, tourism, urban and rural
development, as well as industry, to better appreciate the value of water and associated eco-
system services, to reduce emissions and the transport of hazardous substances and to take
into consideration the serious impacts on the quality and availability of water resources
caused from extractive activities;
Commit to reduce inequalities in access and ensure affordability of safe drinking
water and sanitation services that are basic human needs, essential to the health and well-
being of families and communities, to avoid any kind of discrimination and to support coun-
tries and communities with specific needs and people suffering from poverty and in vulner-
able situations, especially women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities and those
living in remote areas, going beyond the household, particularly targeting schools,
healthcare facilities and workplaces;
Improve communication and access to practical, water-related information and
funding to empower communities at all levels, through clear messages, to promote partici-
pation, equity, improved accountability and social innovation, supporting the engagement of
civil society representatives in decision-making processes related to the rational, transparent
and sustainable use and management of water resources and the provision of water-related
services;
Step up the efforts to develop tools, build institutional and human resources capac-
ity, foster technology exchange, improve data that are appropriately disaggregated, dissem-
inate knowledge, including traditional knowledge, skills and enhanced scientific and tech-
nical know-how to better understand the water cycle, contribute to the identification of ap-
propriate solutions, including through South-South and triangular cooperation and improved
research, education and training with a local perspective and special attention to children
and youth;
Facilitate partnerships at all levels among different kinds of stakeholders, including
public authorities, the private sector, civil society organizations and academia, with the en-
gagement of women, youth, local communities and indigenous peoples, as appropriate, to
develop and implement actions that address problems related to water and sanitation at suit-
able levels and to promote the all-of-society engagement necessary to achieve the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development;
Prioritize water diplomacy and transboundary cooperation in line with the applica-
ble principles of international law by strengthening inter alia the means of information and
data exchange, open and inclusive multi-level and intersectoral dialogue in order to foster
mutually beneficial solutions and institutional arrangements, such as basin commissions and
plans, among riparian countries, for the development of transboundary river basins, lakes
and aquifers and for protection of ecosystems and recharge zones;
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Promote actions to address water-related disasters by significantly decreasing loss
of life and damage as percentage of gross domestic product, by treating investment in disas-
ter risk reduction as integral to expanding capacity for socioeconomic growth, by integrating
science into policy, by substantially increasing investment in disaster risk reduction and es-
tablishing financing and investment principles and by supporting alliance of alliances in
recognition that climate change may exacerbate water-related disasters, contributing to pro-
mote action for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction activities;
Recall the United Nations Secretary General’s plan for the Water Action Decade
2018-2028 as a blueprint to coordinate and catalyze action throughout the Decade and invite
the United Nations Secretary General to report to the Member States about the progress
made by the United Nations and its entities with the implementation of this action plan;
Note the intention of the Government of Tajikistan to hold Water Action Decade
Conferences in Dushanbe on a biennial basis and to keep organizing them in an open and
inclusive manner and invite all states, the United Nations, including UN-Water, and other
relevant stakeholders, to actively participate in this Dushanbe Process;
Invite countries to consider the establishment of Water Action Decade centers and
partnerships on specific themes, such as one for water and disasters, or at the regional level
and use the already existing water-related centers, programs and partnerships, such as those
under the auspices of the United Nations and its entities, including UNESCO Centers and
Chairs, as useful mechanisms to enhance dialogue, cooperation, technical and scientific
transfer and development for the effective implementation of the Decade;
Further invite all Member States to consider appointing water champions, who will
play a mobilizing role for the Water Action Decade;
Strongly recommend Member States to prepare and adopt national strategies and
plans and implement actions for the achievement of the water-related Sustainable Develop-
ment Goals and targets, as well as the goals of the Water Action Decade;
Ask the United Nations, within existing resources, regional organizations, Interna-
tional Financial Institutions, philanthropic organizations, the private sector and development
partners to support the implementation of the Water Action Decade, particularly in develop-
ing countries, Least Developed Countries, countries suffering from water scarcity, Small
Island Developing States and Land-Locked Developing Countries and middle-income coun-
tries, considering their specific circumstances;
Request the Government of Tajikistan to present the Chair’s Summary of this Con-
ference, accompanied by this Declaration, to the 73rd session of the United Nations General
Assembly, to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
and other relevant venues;
Urge all Member States to actively participate in the preparation process of a United
Nations General Assembly resolution on the Mid-Term Comprehensive Review of the In-
ternational Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, to be un-
dertaken during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly;
Request the Secretariat of this First High-Level International Conference on the In-
ternational Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, to collect,
in collaboration with the International Steering Committee, the actions and partnerships that
were proposed by the participating states and organizations during this Conference in a doc-
ument to be entitled “Call for Action and Partnership”;
Invite the participating states and organizations to share the progress made on the
actions and partnerships proposed during this Conference at inter alia the Second Water Ac-
tion Decade Conference, and as a contribution towards the Mid-Term Review of the Decade;
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Decide that the theme of the Second Water Action Decade Conference shall be “cat-
alyzing water action and partnership at the local, national, regional and global levels” to
achieve the goals of the Water Action Decade and water-related Sustainable Development
Goals and targets;
Express our sincere appreciation to the Government of Tajikistan for hosting the
Water Action Decade Conferences in Dushanbe and for the warm welcome and generous
hospitality extended to all participants; we also express our sincere appreciation to the
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Develop-
ment Programme, UN-Water and other partners for their support.
(...) It was
further highlighted water and sanitation safety planning at utility or community level to lead
the way in transforming drinking-water and sanitation service provision. (...) Finally, it was emphasized efforts
should be taken to enhance the capacity of water utilities and local governments through
capacity building and financial decentralization to meet the challenges of rapid urbanization.
Action Panel 4.1 on Financing, Investment and Resilient Infrastructure
Co-organized by the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development, the session concluded that financing, investment and resilient infrastruc-
ture under the SDGs aim substantially higher than the Millennium Development Goals, and
therefore there is a need for a shift under these new circumstances.
لغة:العربية
نتيجة: 1398137
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https://daccess-ods.un.org/acc...sf/get?open&DS=A/73/166&Lang=A
مصدر البيانات: ods
