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30 August 2022<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Access to water is a universal right and ensuring that right is a universal obligation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Acting on this is critical, especially at this time, as clean, and fresh water is necessary to support a sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet even before the pandemic, we were struggling to meet the targets outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 6 on access to clean water and sanitation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the post-pandemic context, the situation has become dire. Today, 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water, and more than 700 million people are at risk of being displaced due to water scarcity by 2030.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is compounded by a raging climate crisis and its drastic consequences on water-availability.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
As temperatures soar, longer droughts are becoming more frequent, and the weather grows more unpredictable. This directly affects the availability and distribution of rainfall, snowmelt, river flows and groundwater. The quality of already available water continues to deteriorate due to a variety of factors, including pollution.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
We must urgently accelerate initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges related to water resources. Climate adaptation strategies in managing water-resources must be implemented to ensure everyone has access to clean water.<\/p>\n
The need for this grows more pressing with a rising population, that is expected to reach 8 billion by November this year, causing increasing demand for water and stress on existing resources.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Water-scarcity is not only a crisis by itself, but it has several spillover effects. It undermines our health and food security, and has the potential to trigger further displacements, refugee-crises, and political instability.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My friends,<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
For these reasons, it is important that we raise awareness on water related issues and put them front and center in our multilateral discussions.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only by giving this issue the serious attention it deserves can we generate effective strategies, identify best-practices, and integrate water management tools.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is not yet too late to enact meaningful change. But we must work collectively and with purpose, if we are to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Towards this end, let us build upon the commitments and initiatives made during COP26 in Glasgow; Stockholm +50; the Dushanbe Water Conference; the UN Ocean Conference; and the ECOSOC High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
We need to build momentum as we prepare for the UN 2023 Water Conference, in March next year.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Let us recommit to solving water-related issues and water scarcity, which have such profound repercussions environmentally, economically, socially, and on global sustainable development.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Together, we can build a more inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, in the context of the Water decade of action, running from 2018 to 2028.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Together, we can guarantee the right to clean and fresh water, to all our communities.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thank you.<\/p>\n
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Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p>
I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p>
Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p>
A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the UN and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-271257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n