Turkey’s English daily newspaper Hurriyet reports that, “A resolution sponsored by Tajikistan focusing on sustainable development and protecting the world’s fresh water resources has been adopted by the United Nations. The U.N. General Assembly adopted Sunday the International Year of Water Cooperation 2013 resolution… The working document of the resolution was prepared according to existing General Assembly water resolutions, including the ‘Dushanbe Declaration on Water Resources’ adopted in June at the international review conference regarding the implementation of the International Decade for Action, ‘Water for Life, 2005-2015’. According to a spokesperson of Tajikistan’s permanent mission in New York, the resolution was cosponsored by a number of countries including Australia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Ukraine.”
A campaign blog last June noted that the High Level International Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ 2005-2015, took place on June 8-10, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. 77 governments attended, including Canada.
The International Institute for Sustainable Development reports that participants focused on six themes: accelerating progress towards water-related internationally-agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and ensuring involvement of women; transboundary water cooperation; water quality; water resources and adaptation to climate change, disaster risks reduction; sustainable financing; and Integrated Water Resource Management, energy, agriculture and food security.
The Declaration highlights, “Access to safe drinking water and sanitation, which is recognized by some countries as a human right, is inextricably linked to life, health, development, food, housing, education, physical security and freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment. The realization of this can be promoted through national efforts, with the appropriate international support.”
The 38-point Declaration can be read at http://climate-l.org/2010/06/11/international-conference-carries-out-mid-term-review-of-international-water-decade/.
Today’s news report can be read at http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=un-adopts-tajik-water-resolution-2010-12-21.
