Indigenous Peoples' holistic and inclusive approaches to water at the Dushanbe Water Process
Dushanbe - The Dushanbe Water Process 2nd High-Level International Conference on International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028” took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 6 - 9 June 2022. The Conference focused on how governments, the United Nations and its entities, other international and regional organizations, international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, academia, communities, local governments and other stakeholders can catalyze water action and partnerships to contribute to the implementation of water-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Climate Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development and the New Urban Agenda at all levels, while supporting the global response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Indigenous Peoples have important and long-standing connections with their local water bodies. As the impact of climate change deepens, it is increasingly critical to reach these communities, especially as their understanding of water and the environment can offer a more contextualised perspective. The “Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Forum” aims to serve as a platform for the wisdom, worldviews and voice of Indigenous Peoples to inform water and land management on how to protect vital ecosystems more effectively. The recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ relationships to their local waters, and the associated obligations thereof, is of critical importance to climate change mitigation and adaptation and everyone’s water security.
On 6 June, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized a session on “inclusive approaches to water in ecosystems, land, agriculture, and knowledge development”, featuring opening remarks from Viacheslav Shadrin, Yolanda Lopez, Shoimzoda Jamshed, Nigel Crawhall, Federico Properzi, as well as recorded messages from Darío José Mejía Montalvo and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim.
Regional Challenges
Session 2 on Regional Challenges was facilitated by Tania Martinez Cruz, and featured perspectives on the Asia region by Phan Thi Thu Huong, Prem Singh Tharu, Viacheslav Shadrin, Usubaliev Baibek, Kudaibergenov Kubat and Verng Many; on the Afgrica region by Joram Iuseb; and on the Americas region by Darío José Mejía Montalvo.
Building a Road Map for Engagement to UN 2023 Water Conference
Nigel Crawhall, (UNESCO), Yon Fernández-de-Larrinoa, (FAO) and David Hebart-Coleman (UNDP) discussed the next steps to build a Road Map for Engagement to UN 2023 Water Conference.
Messages to the Dushanbe Water Process leading up to the 2023 UN Water Conference
Tania Eulalia Martinez Cruz presented key messages on behalf of the Informal Reference group on water and Indigenous Issues that resulted from the Dushanbe Second Water Process, that emphasize the need:
- For a systemic approach that recognizes the value of water beyond a natural resource
- To promote inclusive, effective, and culturally appropriate participation of Indigenous Peoples
- To increase capacity building on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and support them to collate their knowledge to inform national and international water governance and policy
- To bring attention to Indigenous People’s rights who are at the forefront of water conservation, especially in the context of international corporations and extractive industries.
- Supporting intergenerational knowledge transfer by restoring, revitalizing and reclaiming Indigenous knowledge systems and languages, acknowledging that Indigenous women and youth are the holders of much Indigenous knowledge and are essential agents of change.
“In the end, we have a single request: work with us to develop the recognition of Indigenous Peoples role in Water Security and help us scale up and share our time-tested and innovative water management practices to address global crises,” concluded Tania Eulalia Martinez Cruz.
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