#Bahamas, September 15, 2017 – Nassau – The formation of a National Committee to enhance knowledge of local water resources, matters pertaining to protection, governance, and integrated water resources management will be a primary outcome of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP) Meeting in Nassau next week.
It is envisioned the UNESCO-IHP National Committee will work in coordination with the University of The Bahamas to encourage and support related areas of study and research regarding water resources management.
The Meeting of National Committees and Focal Points of UNESCO-IHP for Latin America and the Caribbean (IHP-LAC) at the British Colonial Hilton will compriseover 60 international delegates representing the Caribbean, South and Central America. Under the auspices of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) — UNESCO representatives on water, other partners, and prominent scientists are expected to attend the weeklong conclave.
The Minister of Education the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd leads a list of government officials expected to be in attendance at the opening ceremony on Monday morning, September 18.
Minister Lloyd said it is the government’s “pleasure” to host delegates from all over the region at this event, and the benefits of attending a conference of this nature are the opportunities to build networks and increase awareness of new trends happening in specific areas.
The objective of the 7th UNESCO-IHP Meeting is to agree on resolutions for the implementation of IHP in Latin America & The Caribbean (LAC), in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. IHP associated working-groups will also tackle topics such as groundwater management, eco-hydrology and natural hazards, among others.
Strategies by Small Island Developing States to achieve water security are among the topics to be discussed by the high-level policy makers, water experts and community leaders.
The Bahamas has been a member of UNESCO since April 23, 1981. The main objective of the organization is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion.
The IHP of UNESCO is the only inter-governmental programme of the United Nations system devoted to water research, water resources management, education, and capacity building.
Story by: Kathryn Campbell (BIS)
