World Water Day
Date: 22 March
The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.
The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water by adopting resolution (A/res/47/193 of 22 February 1993). This world day for water was to be observed starting in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development contained in chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21.
States were invited to devote the Day to implement the UN recommendations and set up concrete activities as deemed appropriate in the national context.
Organisation
Each year, one of the nominated UN agencies is in charge of celebrating and promoting a new theme, guided by the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) on water resources.Objectives
World Water Day is pivotal to focusing attention on the need, among others, to:
- address the problems relating to drinking water supply;
- increase public awareness about the importance of conservation, preservation, and protection of water resources and drinking water supply; and
- increase governments, international agencies, non-governmental organisations, and private sector participation and cooperation in organisation of WWD celebrations.
Strategies
The following are suggested actions and activities that can be carried out at country level to develop awareness campaigns in countries by government and their partners. The partnership between governments, private sector, NGOs and professional organisations can be enhanced through their participation and collaboration in these events.
- Promote mass media education programmes.
- Focus on school children and youth.
- Publish and diffuse documentaries.
- Organise conferences, round tables, seminars and expositions related to the conservation and development of water resources.
- Promote community and self-help programmes.
- Increase public and private sector support, through collaboration and participation in the celebrations.
22 March is therefore a unique occasion to remind everybody of the extreme importance of water for maintaining the environment and increasing development in human societies. Practical efforts can help us to increase worldwide awareness of both problems and solutions. To make a difference our tasks consist in turning words into commitment and action, in the framework of a general theme.
