DUSHANBE, 22.12.2020 (NIAT Khovar) – Yesterday, during its 75th session, UN’s General Assembly unanimously adopted a draft resolution titled United Nations Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action «Water for Sustainable Development,» 2018-2028 introduced by Tajikistan and the Netherlands with the co-sponsorship of the absolute majority of the UN member states numbering 190 countries.

The document which relies on previous resolutions on the International Decade for Action emphasizes that water is critical for sustainable development and the eradication of poverty. The resolution also notes with concern that climate change is one of the factors that can exacerbate the global water stress, and emphasizes the need for climate adaptation strategies to address water issues.

In light of the pandemic, the resolution recognizes that safe drinking water, and adequate and equitable sanitation are essential to global efforts towards strengthening and achieving universal health coverage.

The resolution also seeks to identify possible challenges and obstacles related to the achievement of the set objectives, exchange views and develop actions and initiatives needed for accelerating progress toward the planned achievement during the second half of the decade, and involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations and other actors toward a coordinated action plan.

The resolution reiterates its request to the president of the General Assembly to set a one-day high-level meeting in 2021 to promote the implementation of the water-related goals and targets.

Additionally, the resolution notes and welcomes the offer of Tajikistan’s government to hold the high-level international conference in 2022 to support the effective preparation for the midterm comprehensive review that may serve to provide input for the preparatory process for the UN Conference — 2023.

Also the resolution, confirming its decision on the need for regional and global preparatory meetings, further welcomes the offers of the governments of Portugal to host a high-level symposium on water during the United Nations Ocean Conference, Germany to host a high-level conference on water, Japan to support the organization of the Asia-Pacific Water Summit in April 2022, Senegal to host the ninth World Water Forum from 21 to 26 March 2022, and other member states to organize meetings intended to feed into the midterm comprehensive review.

The resolution encourages Member States, relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as other relevant partners, including the private sector, to continue to contribute to the review and implementation of the Decade, including through capacity-building, in order to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

It should be noted that the United Nations Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action can provide an important and timely platform for discussion and exchange of views on a wide range of water issues and become a worthy continuation of the first UN Water Conference, held back in 1977 in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Undoubtedly, the adoption of the abovementioned resolution by the UN General Assembly is evidence of the recognition of the global importance of water-related initiatives of President Emomali Rahmon by the international community.