World Water Day / 22 March

A World Water Day celebration in Kenya in 2010

Observed by      People and organizations worldwide, including all UN member states

Date      22 March

Related to           Water, Sustainable development, Sustainability

World Water Day is an annual observance day on 22 March to highlight the importance of freshwater. It is also used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. World Water Day is celebrated around the world with a variety of events. These can be educational, theatrical, musical or lobbying in nature. The day can also include campaigns to raise money for water projects. The first World Water Day, designated by the United Nations, was commemorated in 1993 - 25 years ago.

UN-Water selects a theme for each year. The theme for 2018 is "Nature for Water" to encourage people to "look for the answer in nature". For example, nature-based solutions could be implemented to reduce floods, droughts and water pollution and to protect ecosystems.

Previous themes for the years 2015 to 2017 were "Water and Sustainable Development", "Water and Jobs'" and "Why waste water?" (which included asepcts of wastewater and reuse). The focus on universal access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6

The UN World Water Development Report is released each year around World Water Day.

Contents

1              Objectives

2              Convener

3              Examples of activities

Objectives

Children in Ukraine learn about water in a classroom decorated with blue "waterdrop" balloons to celebrate World Water Day in 2016.

Children made their own posters to celebrate World Water Day within the Paryavaran Mitra Programme in India, 2013.

Children presenting a puppet show for the "My School Toilet" contest in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, for World Water Day in 2010.

World Water Day is an international observance day. The intention is to inspire people around the world to learn more about water-related issues and to take action to make a difference.

The global water crisis is one of the issues that calls for action. The challenges include water scarcity, water pollution, inadequate water supply and the lack of sanitation for billions of people in less developed countries. The day brings to light the inequality of access to WASH services and the need to assure the human right to water and sanitation.

Convener

UN-Water coordinates activities with UN member organizations who share an interest in that year's theme. In 2016 the "Water and Jobs" theme led to a collaboration with the International Labour Organization. UN-Water mobilizes organizations of all kinds to action, whether globally or locally.

The World Water Day website announces events, activities and volunteer opportunities. In 2018, stories are about "Nature and water from around the world" in keeping with the theme of "Nature for water".

Examples of activities

Organizations active in the WASH sector use the day to raise public awareness, get media attention for water issues and inspire action. Activities have included releasing publications and films, as well as organizing round tables, seminars and expositions. Non-governmental organizations such as UNICEF, WaterAid and Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP).

End Water Poverty, a global civil society coalition with 250 partner organizations, sponsors Water Action Month each year and offers an event-planning guidebook.

The UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is released each year on World Water Day. Information related to the annual theme gives decision-makers tools to implement sustainable use of water resources.

More and more initiatives in schools and universities are educating people about the importance of conserving and managing water resources. For example, Michigan State University held a contest for "best World Water Day poster" in 2017. Primary school children in the Philippines participated in a "My School Toilet" contest in 2010.

Impacts

In 2016, the World Water Day campaign and related publications reached millions of people through social media, dedicated websites and other channels: The UN-Water annual report states that social media engagement (hashtag #WorldWaterDay) had a maximum potential reach of 1.6 billion people worldwide in 2016. Over 500 events in 1000 countries were registered on the World Water Day website that year.

History

This day was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. In December 1992, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/47/193 by which 22 March of each year was declared World Day for Water.

In 1993, the first World Water Day was observed.