State Secretary Lemos was in Daegu and Gyeongbuk in South Korea for the meeting, which is held every three years and
this year took place from 12 to 17 April.
The World Water Forum is a large-scale international conference that has been held every three years since 1997 in cooperation with the public, private sectors, academia, and industries.
It was first launched in an effort to facilitate international discussions on global water challenges.
Considered the biggest international event within its sector the World Water Forum is organised by the World Water Council in collaboration with the government of whichever country it is held in.
This year it aimed to discuss current issues ongoing within the United Nations as well as approve a sustainable development agenda and objectives for post-2015.
During his participation in the Forum, the State Secretary intervened in a ministerial plenary and round table on the theme “Ensuring Sufficient Water for All”.
Paulo Lemos said that “Governments should seek to ensure that the provision of water services comply with international commitments, as well as the commitments made to the people. With these goals in mind, it is up to the governments to pursue good public policy and effective regulation.”
Speaking ahead of the event Jung-moo Lee, Chairman of the 2015 National Committee for the 7th World Water Forum Korea, said: “I expect the 7th Forum will see a lot of discussions and progress in resolving water-related issues, and also it will give Korea an opportunity to become a leader in the water sector.”
Soontak Lee, Co-chair of the International Steering Committee 7th World Water Forum, described the event as “a historic moment in drawing more actions to tackle water challenges.”
The president of the World Water Council, Benedito Braga, added: “The 7th World Water Forum will help us to achieve economic development, social inclusion and sustainable environment.”
It “will be an opportunity to recognise resolving water challenges as our shared responsibility, which is important to economic development, social inclusion, and sustainable environment”, he elaborated.
Serving as a stepping-stone towards global collaboration on water challenges, the Forum is a unique multistakeholder platform where the water community and the policy and decision-makers from all regions of the world can work together to find joint solutions. It is the largest international event which seeks to advance the cause of water.
“Tackling water challenges has become a global topic for the 21st century”, the World Water Council states in its mission statement, adding: “Water issues have been political issues in many nations, while interested parties (governments, the academic world, private organisations and interest groups) have strived to find solutions to address global water challenges. Indeed, the World Water Council (WWC), an international organisation consisting of water-related organisations, governments and international organisations was founded in 1996 to provide a forum for global water issues.”
The next World Water Forum is set to take place in Brasilia, Brazil, in 2018.