DUSHANBE, May 21, 2015, Asia-Plus – A briefing on preparations for the high-level international conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 20.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will arrive in Tajikistan next month to participate in the mentioned conference that will take place in Dushanbe from June 9-11.

To-date, 72 delegations of the UN member nations have reportedly confirmed their participation in the conference.

UN agencies such as FAO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UN-Water, WHO, UN-Women, UNEP, UNU, UN-Habitat, ISDR and others have also confirmed their participation in the conference.

Besides, senior representatives of international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Eurasian Development Bank, will participate in the conference, the source said.

The UN General Assembly resolution (A/RES/69/215) on the ’International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015’ included the convening of a High-level International Conference on the implementation of the Decade.  The Conference provides an opportunity to discuss the challenges and gaps in the implementation of the International Decade and on this basis, recommendations will be elaborated for further action to be taken after 2015, including contributing to the development of the Sustainable Development Goals related to water resources.  The conference program will include a variety of activities, including plenary and thematic sessions, sessions on regional perspectives, an exhibition and a tour.  The Tajikistan Conference is open to all stakeholders for conducting side events.