At the UN High-Level Meeting on Water, Minister of People’s Power for Water Management, Evelyn Vásquez, stated Venezuela’s firm, strong position by proposing water-related goals within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Venezuelan minister shared the concern of the Bolivarian Government about the pace at which the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is moving worldwide, and the obviously declining water availability in the world amid one of the worst pandemics.
Likewise, Vásquez denounced the economic aggression against the Venezuelan people by big powers, which have imposed unilateral coercive measures to affect the proper operation of public services and the country’s financial stability, jeopardizing the full enjoyment of fundamental rights.
“At this High-Level Meeting, we call for expanding international cooperation and speeding up concrete actions to achieve the SDGs. A first step should be the lifting of these criminal unilateral coercive measures to move forward with the fulfillment of our commitments within the framework of the 2030 Agenda,” said Vásquez.
The Venezuelan minister also highlighted the efforts made by the Venezuelan Government to “protect water and guarantee life as a resistance mechanism to successfully move forward with a sovereign, sustainable management model in harmony with productive development.”
SDGs in 2019-2025 Homeland Plan
Venezuela’s Minister for Water Management pointed out that they incorporated the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda into the country’s 2029-2025 Homeland Plan, presented by President Nicolás Maduro, for the realization of the fundamental right to universal, equitable access to drinking water, “a principle enshrined in our Constitution, which recognizes water as a public good for the nation.”
Finally, Vásquez expressed Venezuela’s will to support different initiatives resulting from the multilateral work of the UN member states to achieve a better future for the peoples.