ACTIVITIES - NEWS
2013: The International Year of Water Cooperation
February 15, 2013
Cooperation on shared water resources, within as well as between countries, is critical, especially in water-scarce regions where the upstream and downstream impacts of consumption and pollution are magnified. For this, it is critical to nurture the opportunities for cooperation in water management among all stakeholders and improve the comprehension of the challenges and benefits of water cooperation in order to build mutual respect, understanding and trust among countries and promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth.
In order to generate greater awareness on the above, 2013 was declared as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation by the United Nations General Assembly. UNESCO was called upon by UN-Water to lead this international year, in particular because of the organization’s unique multidisciplinary approach blending natural and social sciences, education, culture and communication. Given the intrinsic nature of water as a transversal and universal element, the United Nations International Year on Water Cooperation naturally will embrace and touch upon all these aspects. This declaration will be reflected in the 2013 World Water Day, which will take place on 22 March 2013, also dedicated to water cooperation.
The objective of this International Year is to raise awareness, both on the challenges facing water management in light of the increase in demand for water access, allocation and services, and on the potential for increased cooperation. 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.
