DUSHANBE, 18.06.2018 /NIAT “Khovar”/. On June 20-22, 2018, and in the context of the SDG 2030 agenda, Tajikistan will host a global high-level international conference (HLIC) to launch the second decade of global focus on water and sanitation 2018-2028, focused on SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

On the framework of this international meeting, the Government of Tajikistan and UNICEF jointly organize a day-long pre-conference event on June 19 — the Children´s Water Forum — to ensure that every child everywhere has access to safe water and sanitation.

According to the press secratary of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan Ehsoni Khushbakht, the Forum, organized in the National Library of Tajikistan, will have three main components and will be attended by hundreds of national and international partners, children and adolescents interested in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues and its relation to a better future for every child.

One of the core components of the forum is an exhibition showcasing the 14 best projects of the Youth Innovation Challenge, a competition organized in Tajikistan to bring together the most innovative WASH solutions designed by adolescent girls and boys. The exhibition will take place at the venue of the Forum.

The Forum will also provide space for the voices of children and adolescent girls and boys from across Tajikistan on WASH issues. The Children’s Water Flag, composed of dozens of paintings from children in every district of Tajikistan, will be used as a symbol of the HLIC.

The audience will also have the opportunity to explore the link between WASH and Early Childhood Development (ECD) on a panel discussion with global experts from the UN and international organizations, as well as national ECD champions and parents.

The day is planned to culminate with the awards ceremony for the best three projects of the Youth Innovation Challenge.