The Netherlands and Tajikistan, as co-hosts of the UN 2023 Water Conference (https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2023), strived to make the Conference a watershed moment for the world. Their vision for the Conference is that all fundamentally understand, value and manage water better and take concerted action to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. While the Water Action Decade is an essential enabler for the 2030 Agenda, including SDG 6, additional enhancement of a UN system-wide approach to water is necessary for the achievement of water-related goals and targets and to reinforce the international water voice and cross-sectoral connections. The preparatory process and the Conference were grounded in a foundation of consistency, continuity and commitment, making sure that coalitions forged, opportunities identified, and promises made can lead to impactful results, replication and scaling up, ensuring that 2023 is indeed the springboard for catalyzing action for water security for all. Both the preparatory process and the Conference itself sought to shine the spotlight on commitments that create impact and set a clear agenda for the second half of the Decade and beyond until 2030, while promoting a longer-term approach and perspective, going beyond 2030.

The Conference featured an opening and closing ceremony, six plenary meetings and five multi-stakeholder interactive dialogues. It also featured a number of high-level special events and side events organized by Member States, the UN system and other stakeholders.

Mrs. Emma Anakhasyan, a representative of AWHHE, was a speaker in 3 events:

• Interactive Dialogue: New momentum to make safe water and sanitation a reality for all: How to scale up globally practical tools and know-how gained under the Protocol on Water and Health?
• Informal Special Event: Reducing inequalities – implementing Human Rights; and
• Regional Dialogue: Accelerating Implementation of the Water Action Agenda.

Press Release “Historic UN conference marks watershed moment to tackle global water crisis and ensure water-secure future” is available at  is available at https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/Closing%20press%20release_waterconference_FINAL_24Mar.pdf .