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Briefing on the Protocol on Water and Health for Uzbekistan

02 February 2023
Uzbekistan

A briefing on the Protocol on Water and Health was held on 2 February 2023 in Tashkent. Jointly organized by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service, Ministry of Health, of the Republic of Uzbekistan, UNECE and WHO/Europe, the meeting helped clarifying the key legal provisions, main obligations and benefits of accession to the Protocol as well as its programme of work for 2023-2025.

The briefing concluded with the adoption of the following outcomes and next steps with regard to accession to the Protocol:

-        Water, sanitation, hygiene and health are priority areas for Uzbekistan;

-        Accession to the Protocol will support streamlining national action to in these areas, setting concrete and achievable targets, and guiding actions for achieving the 2030 Agenda;

-        Finalization and approval of the roadmap for Uzbekistan's accession to the Protocol on Water and Health - by March 2023;

-        The announcement by Uzbekistan of its intention to accede to the Protocol at the UN 2023 Water Conference (New York, 22-24 March 2023), as well as the submission of a voluntary commitment on accession - by March 2023 (to be further discussed at national level);

-        Setting targets within two years of accession - Uzbekistan is requesting support to set national targets (target setting to take place potentially in 2024-2025)

-        Reporting under the Protocol as a Party (to take place potentially in 2025);

-        UNECE and WHO/Europe will provide technical support in the process of accession, clarification of the Protocol provisions, setting of targets and reporting (incl. through project activities and with support of the NPD process);

-        UNECE and WHO/Europe will engage Uzbekistan in different thematic activities and provide technical support in response to country needs.

More detailed information is available in the minutes of the meeting in ENG and RU.