“Empowering Voices: Central Asian Youth Reflect on Water Sustainability at High-Level Conference” is a topic of the art project organized by the Swiss initiative Blue Peace Central Asia, with its secretariat at the Regional Environmental Center of Central Asia, at the Third International High-Level Conference “Water for Sustainable Development.” The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in collaboration with the UN hosted the Conference on 10-13 June 2024 in Dushanbe.
The authors of the art project – a group of young water professionals together with the artist Radhika Gupta – featured a series of illustrations brought together in a single installation, showcasing the perspectives of Central Asian youth on the conference themes.
“Opening Windows for the Voices of Central Asian Youth”
The authors of the art project note that together with four young water professionals from Central Asia, they gathered information on regional water issues.
The installation evokes the connection between people and ecosystems through images and symbols. Thus, the conference participants had the unique opportunity to peer through a window into the heart of the mountains, symbolizing the protection of women who represent all communities. The youth, following in the footsteps of these women, become the guardians of nature. Finally, the snow leopard, a symbol of Central Asia, guards the ecosystem from the mountain peaks. A river flows from the mouth of a glacier to the ocean, illustrating the interconnectedness of the entire system.
The authors of this art project aimed to depict the complexity, interdependence, and shared responsibility towards the environment and future generations.
Additionally, conference participants could leave messages for their governments on the most critical water issues by writing them on the body of the «fish» and releasing them in the «blue river».
This art project was part of the Blue Peace Initiative Pavilion, which highlighted the initiative's main areas of focus in our region, as well as in the Middle East and West Africa.
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The main objective of the Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference is to further enhance common efforts and support the implementation of voluntary commitments registered in the Water Action Agenda of the UN Water Conference, as well as to stimulate new partnerships and accelerate actions to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Dushanbe Conference also aims to share best practices and innovative solutions, strengthen partnerships among stakeholders, promote the role of water in sustainable development, raise awareness and mobilize political will to accelerate progress towards achieving the water-related goals of the 2030 Agenda and contribute to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2024 and preparatory process of the UN Water Conference in 2026.
The results of the Conference are available here.