22 March. World Water Day

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. In 2013, in reflection of the International Year of Water Cooperation, World Water Day is also dedicated to the theme of cooperation around water and is coordinated by UNESCO in collaboration with UNECE and UNDESA on behalf of UN-Water.

Read more on past World Water Day celebrations >>

Worldwide events

On the occasion of World Water Day on 22 March, celebrations and events are taking place worldwide. People all around the world take action to raise awareness on water issues and improve the management of our water resources. Check what others are doing and get involved!

Check the worldmap of events >>

World Water Day celebrations and High Level Forum
The Hague, Netherlands
22 March 2013

Official celebrations of World Water Day will be hosted on 22 March 2013 by the Government of The Netherlands in The Hague. The programme of the day includes inspirational speeches, presentations, panel and thematic discussions, and a series of public shows on the theme of water cooperation.

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High-Level Interactive Dialogue of the 67th session of the UNGA
United Nations Headquarters, New York
22 March 2013

Taking place in the context of current discussions on the Post-2015 development framework and the process of developing a set of SDGs, the main objective of the event is to identify and discuss water-related challenges and key areas which in the future will require stronger political support and international cooperation.

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