The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the following key water resolutions initiated by the Republic of Tajikistan:
— The proclamation of 2003 the International Year of Fresh Water (UN General Assembly Resolution of December 20, 2000, 55/196, 55th session);
In September 2000, at the United Nations Millennium Summit, the world leaders committed themselves to halve the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015; moreover, at the
Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002, a goal was set to halve the proportion of people without access to adequate sanitation by the year of 2015.
The International Year of Fresh Water had to mobilize the world to achieve these goals by raising awareness on the problem, creating new ideas and strategies to address it. In this regard, the United Nations planned to conduct a number of activities, and the central one was the International Fresh Water Forum (29 August – 1 September 2003, Dushanbe).
— The proclamation of 2005-2015 the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” (UN General Assembly Resolution of December 23, 2003, 58/217, 58th session);
The main goal of the Decade was to promote efforts to fulfil international commitments made on water and water-related issues by the year 2015.
These commitments also included the development goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly, to halve the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
Another important goal of the Decade was to develop, by 2015, plans for integrated water resource management and water-use efficiency in rendering assistance to the developing countries.
— The proclamation of 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation (UN General Assembly Resolution of December 20, 2010, 65/154, 65th session)
Taking into account the growing water problems and acknowledging the partnership as a key factor in the solutions of those problems, on 20 December 2010 the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution 65/154 by consensus initiated by the Republic of Tajikistan. According to the resolution, the year 2013 was declared as the International Year of Water Cooperation.
Cooperation in the field of water resources plays a crucial role in ensuring security, poverty alleviation, achieving social justice and gender equality. Water cooperation is economically profitable and a determining factor for the conservation of water resources and environmental protection.
The Global level actions of the country on water are characterized by the desire to attract more attention of the world community to address water issues and improve water cooperation.
— The proclamation of 2018-2028 the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” (UN General Assembly Resolution of December 21, 2016, 71/222, 71st session)
To accelerate efforts towards meeting water-related challenges, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2018-2028 as the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”.
The objectives of the Decade is to focus on the sustainable development and integrated management of water resources for the achievement of social, economic and environmental objectives and on the implementation and promotion of related programmes and projects, as well as on the furtherance of cooperation and partnership at all levels in order to help to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Decade also highlights the importance of promoting efficient water usage at all levels, taking into account the water, food, energy, environment nexus; and stresses the importance of the participation and full involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including women, children, young people, older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and local communities.
GLOBAL WATER INITIATIVES OF TAJIKISTAN