Predsednica republike na Konferenci OZN o vodi

We need a UN Special Envoy for Water

The President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar is attending the UN Water Conference, which began today at the United Nations Headquarters. The President spoke at the Conference plenary meeting, calling for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy for Water, regular intergovernmental dialogue, and the meeting of ambitious commitments to protect water.

United Nations Headquarters, New York, 22 Mar 2023

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“We urgently need a strong international water voice! We need a UN Special Envoy for Water,” said President Pirc Musar at the Conference plenary meeting, emphasising that an appeal to that effect has been signed by over 150 countries, which believe that such an envoy would serve to mobilise much needed further action for the protection of water. President Pirc Musar further emphasised the need for regular high-level intergovernmental UN meetings on water. “Such a global stock-taking every two or three years would not only keep the momentum this conference has generated, but also drive forward its follow-up process,” she said.

The President highlighted the importance of putting our ambitious commitments into action. In her address, she presented Slovenia’s commitments, which aim to contribute to gender-equal water governance, protection of water resources and infrastructure through better compliance with international humanitarian law, better access to open-source capacity building on water management, upgrading transboundary water cooperation through science, technology and aquatic ecosystem restoration management, and upgrading flood forecasting and warning systems.

The President delivered the joint statement of the Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition, comprising more than 40 countries, regional integration and international organisations, international financial institutions, non-governmental organisations, and academic and research centres that have joined forces to sustain and advance transboundary water cooperation.

The purpose of this meeting of countries, which symbolically coincides with World Water Day, is the midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of the objectives of the United Nations’ international action plan, “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018–2028. The objectives of this Action Decade focus on the sustainable development and integrated management of water resources for the achievement of social, economic and environmental objectives. The Decade also highlights the importance of the participation and full involvement of women, children, young people, older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and local communities for the achievement of these objectives.

Going forward, the President will attend several events on the margins of the conference. Tonight, as a representative of an EU member state, she will address the participants of the reception given by the African Ministers’ Council on Water. Last night, on the eve of the conference, she attended a working dinner hosted by the co-presidents of the conference, Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, and Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands.

President Pirc Musar also has several bilateral meetings planned.

The President is accompanied at the conference by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon and Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Uroš Brežan.