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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.

Having a day devoted to Water is pivotal to focusing attention on the need, amongst others, to increase awareness about the importance of the conservation, preservation, and protection of water resources and drinking water supply.

World Water Day is celebrated in order to increase participation and cooperation between governments, international agencies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in the organization of all kind of activities that may address the problems relating to water supply and sanitation.It was on December 22 1992 that the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/47/193, by which March 22of each year was declared World Water Day, to be observed starting from 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) contained in Chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21.

States were invited to devote the Day, as appropriate in the national context, to concrete activities such as the promotion of public awareness through the publication and transmission of documentaries and the organization of conferences, round tables, seminars and expositions related to the conservation and development of water resources and the implementation of the recommendations of Agenda 21.World Water Day (WWD) 2005 will be guided by the upcoming water decade’s theme “Water for Life”, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/58/217.

World Water Day Themes

2004 Water and Disasters
2003 Water for Future
2002 Water for Development
2001 Water for Health
2000 Water for the Twenty-first Century
1999 Everyone Lives Downstream
1998 Groundwater - the Invisible Resource
1997 The World’s Water: Is There Enough?
1996 Water for Thirsty Cities
1995 Women and Water
1994 Caring for our water resources is everyone’s business
Source:
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_celebrations/index.shtml
http://www.worldwaterday.org

Strategies for World Water Day

The following are suggested actions and activities that can be carried out at the country level to develop awareness campaigns.

  • Promote mass media education programs.
  • Raise awareness amongst school children and youth.
  • Promote community and self-help programs.
  • Increase public and private sector support, through collaboration and participation in the celebrations.
  • Increase awareness of decision makers.

Potential Actions

The potential actions that can be carried out by related water organizations may include the following:

  • The organization of an ‘Open Day’ during which institutions and the private sector dealing with water issues are open so that all stakeholders can visit water supply installations, treatment plants, irrigation installations, etc. Articles on water issues in local newspapers, newsletters and other (perhaps governmental) periodicals.
  • Newspaper supplements on water resources.
  • TV feature programs on water resources.
  • TV interviews of senior water spokespersons.
  • School competitions.
  • Distribution of brochures and posters to secondary schools.
  • Water quizzes on radio programs.
  • Photo exhibits.
  • Water seminars and symposia.
  • Water cleaning or saving campaigns.

Source:
http://www.unesco.org/science/waterday2000/origin_WWD.htm