Left photo: Keiko Okaido, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, said this meeting seeks to identify major achievements, constraints, and opportunities in the implementation of the internationally-agreed goals relating to water, sanitation and human settlements.

Right photo: JoAnne DiSano, Director for UNDESA’s Division for Sustainable Development, highlighted the key role of national, regional and subregional input in the success of the WSSD, and briefed participants on the outcomes of CSD-11 relating to the Commission’s new programme and organization of work.

Left photo: Surachai Sasisuwan, Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, outlined Thailand’s efforts to address the key challenge of increasing village water supply, highlighting, inter alia, the importance of improving water governance, participation and decentralization, and monitoring performance. 


Right photo: Robert England, UNDP Resident Coordinator, recommended that UN agencies support national efforts in implementing MDG goals and WSSD outcomes, and that governments incorporate water and sanitation issues in their poverty reduction strategies.

In a video statement, CSD-12 Chair Børge Brende, Norway’s Minister for Environment, said the regional conferences are prerequisites for engendering a productive debate on reaching the MDG targets and for identifying the obstacles in, and regional contributions to, delivering better water supply, sanitation and living conditions.

Delegates elected Aybi Siddiqi (Bangladesh) and Toru Shimuzu (Japan) as Co-chairs, and Adi Sarwako (Indonesia) as Rapporteur by acclamation.

Left photo: Delegate from Lao People's Democratic Republic nominating  Bangladesh, Japan and Indonesia as officers of the meeting.

Right photo (center): Chair Aybi Siddiqi (Bangladesh) being assisted by Ravi Sawhney (left) and David Jezeph (right) of the Secretariat.

Left photo: Dulal Biswas,  representing the Youth underscored the importance of enhancing employment opportunities in the water supply sector and described the key challenges of safe water supply in Bangladesh.



Right photo: Arthur Regis Barrit, representing trade unions said the unions address health and occupational safety issues related to water and sanitation.

Left photo: Mrinal Kanti Tripura, representing indigenous peoples recommended providing financial resources to, and improving participation of, indigenous peoples in the implementation process and partnerships and paying greater attention to cultural diversity in the implementation efforts.

Right photo: Elenita Daño, representing NGOs called for: effective participation of the communities and key stakeholders in addressing the concerns related to water and sanitation issues; focus on preventive holistic water management approaches incorporating risk-reduction strategies; and the recognition of the linkages between water and sanitation and other sectoral policies and issues, including food security.

Left photo: Seiya Kinoshita (Japan), presented on the outcomes of the 3rd World Water Forum Ministerial Conference, highlighting the PWA, a compilation of over 500 actions submitted by countries and international organizations.

Right photo: Kazuya Kumagai (Japan), also outlined the draft Partnership Project Plan of Water Environment Partnership in Asia, designed to promote integrated water management planning.

Bangladesh presented on the recent national focus in sanitation, describing successful efforts to replace unhygienic latrines and clean dirty water bodies.

India discussed the challenges in water supply management in urban and rural areas, noting the importance of, inter alia: promoting private sector participation, user charges, and demand-driven approaches; addressing the issue of low drinking water quality; scaling-up of water management reforms; and linking water supply and sanitation problems to the issue of human settlements.

China presented its national assessment report on progress in sustainable development in the areas of water, sanitation and human settlements, outlined the country’s major achievements and expressed the country’s commitment to regional and international cooperation on water issues.