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The United Nations' (UN) World Water Day is held on March 22 each year. Events are organized on or around this day to increase people's awareness of water's importance in environment, agriculture, health and trade.

By resolution 47/193 of 22 December 1992, the General Assembly declared 22 March of each year World Day for Water starting in 1993. It is a unique occasion to remind everybody that concrete efforts to provide clean drinking water and increase awareness world-wide of the problems and of the solutions, can help make the difference.

In resolution 58/217 of 23 December 2003, the General Assembly proclaimed the period from 2005 to 2015 the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life".


Agenda 21 is a worldwide action plan for areas where human activities may affect the environment. It was adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. Agenda 21 recommended various measures, including creating World Water Day.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on December 22, 1992, declaring March 22 to be the World Day for Water each year. Countries were encouraged to develop activities to highlight local needs for water. The first World Day for Water was observed in 1993.

The Water for Life Decade was launched on World Water Day in 2005. This decade will run from 2005 to 2015 and give a high profile to women's participation and the UN's water-related programs.

Themes


Recent World Water Day themes include:

* Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities (2009).
* Sanitation (2008).
* Coping with Water Scarcity (2007).
* Water and Culture (2006).
* Water for Life (2005).
* Water and Disasters (2004).
* Water for the Future (2003).
* Water for Development (2002).
* Water for Health (2001).
* Water for the 21st Century (2000).
* Everyone Lives Downstream (1999).
* Groundwater: the Invisible Resource (1998).
* The World's Water: Is There Enough? (1997).
* Water for Thirsty Cities (1996).
* Women and Water (1995).

A new theme is allocated to each different year for World Water Day.


What do people do?

Many events are held worldwide during World Water Day. These include:

* Visual art, theatrical and musical celebrations of water.
* Symposia for local, national and international leaders on water management and security.
* Educational events on the importance of clean water and protecting water resources.
* Campaigns and events to raise money for access to clean and affordable water.
* Excursions to local rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
* Special broadcasts on television and radio and the Internet.
* Walks, runs and swimming other sports competitions.

Some events are held on actual World Water Day date, while others are held on convenient dates close to March 22.



Symbols

World Water Day's main symbol is the shape of a water drop in the UN's color blue. Photographs of water being used or in rivers, reservoirs, lakes or seas are widely displayed on this occasion.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

"Water Is Our Most Precious Natural Resource"

Message on World Water Day, 22 March 2009


VIENNA, 22 March (UN Information Service) - Water is our most precious natural resource. More than ever we need to work together to use it wisely. While the world's growing population is consuming more freshwater, climate change is making less water available in many regions as glaciers recede, rainfall becomes less predictable, and floods and droughts become more extreme. Managing water carefully and balancing the varied needs for it is vital.

Much of the planet's water, above or below ground, is shared. Forty per cent of the world's people live in one of 263 basins that are shared by two or more countries. Concern over the possibility of violent disputes features regularly in discussions about sharing limited water resources. But while the potential exists for water to act as a catalyst for conflict between States and communities, precedent suggests that the opposite is actually what happens. Cooperation, not conflict, is the most common response by people facing competing demands.

Under the theme "Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities", World Water Day this year highlights how transboundary water resources can act as a unifying force. Worldwide, there are at least 300 international water agreements, often among parties that are otherwise at odds. These agreements demonstrate the potential of shared water resources to foster trust and promote peace. Political will, a flexible policy framework, strong institutions and an inclusive approach will help us build on this foundation for the benefit of all.

On this World Water Day, I urge governments, civil society, the private sector and all stakeholders to recognize that our collective future depends on how we manage our precious and finite water resources.