OSCE-supported High-Level International Conference on Implementation of International Decade for Action "Water for Life", 2005-2015, concluded in Dushanbe
The High-level International Conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 took place from 8 to 10 June 2015, in Dushanbe.
The Conference provided a forum to discuss the implementation of the International Decade and to develop recommendations for further action to be taken after 2015, including contributing to the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water resources. The conference program included a variety of activities, including plenary and thematic sessions, sessions on regional perspectives, an exhibition and a field trip to the hydro-electric station Nurek.
The event brought together more than 1,500 participants from more than 99 countries of the world, several UN agencies, international and regional organizations as well as NGOs and, universities.
During the opening ceremony, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon reinforced the importance of hydropower as the country’s main source of power supply. He also added that despite the enormous hydropower potential, the population faces severe power shortages during the winter season. This situation has a negative impact on the socio-economic development of the country and the achievement of all development goals.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also added that the key priority areas are the access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.
The Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Halil Yurdakul Yigitguden emphasized the importance of regional co-operation on shared water resources and stated that the “OSCE will continue to foster water co-operation and good water governance; it will further facilitate the exchange of experiences among and beyond the OSCE region.”
The OSCE Office in Tajikistan, in close co-operation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), organized the side-event entitled “Facilitation of transboundary water co-operation: new developments”. The Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Yigitgüden, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Ambassador Markus Mueller, Bo Libert, UNECE Regional Environmental Advisor, Oihon Sharipova, Deputy Chair of the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Alice Aureli (UNESCO International Hydrological Programme), members of the Afghan delegation and others participated in discussion.
Ambassador Markus Mueller stated in his conclusion that the main aim of international trans-boundary water conventions is a sufficient and good quality of water to all riparian regions. “In order to achieve this, institutions in charge of water management, communities and governments have to join forces across borders for the benefit of all people in the basin.”