World Water Day 2013

Event date: 22 March 2013 - 28 September 2012

world water day 2013City/Country: International
Organisers: coordinated by UNESCO in cooperation with UNECE and with the support of UNDESA, UNW-DPAC, UNW-DPC, on behalf UN-Water
Website: International World Water Day 2013

Description: International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. Coming soon in this section of the website, we will present a brief overview of the different themes that have been the focus of World Water Day celebrations.

The objective of this International Year is to raise awareness, both on the potential for increased cooperation, and on the challenges facing water management in light of the increase in demand for water access, allocation and services. The Year will highlight the history of successful water cooperation initiatives, as well as identify burning issues on water education, water diplomacy, transboundary water management, financing cooperation, national/international legal frameworks, and the linkages with the Millennium Development Goals. It also will provide an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum created at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), and to support the formulation of new objectives that will contribute towards developing water resources that are truly sustainable.