Things that you need to know about World Water Day 2021
‘22 March 2021’ is when ‘World Water Day’ is set to be celebrated online. It was way back in 1993 that this event first came into existence. The concept of creating such an event was to celebrate water and raise awareness of the global water crisis. Furthermore, it was also to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030 that this day was marked out on the calendar. Here is bringing you few essential facts that you must know about ‘World Water 2021.
What is the theme of ‘World Water Day’?
The theme of World Water Day 2021 is valuing water. It is a fact that water has enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics as well as the integrity of our natural environment. And so, it for this very reason that this year the theme of the event revolves around the true value of water. Secondly, if we overlook any of these values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource, and therefore we must have fruitful discussions about it.
Why is the ‘World Water Day’ organized?
The basic idea behind creating an annual ‘World Water Day’ is to create awareness among people the true value of water and how we can better protect this vital resource. This event is also being promoted over the years as a platform to encourage conversations among people about what water means to people around the world. It is also provide people with the opportunity to raise the voice and shape the forthcoming World Water Day campaign, leading up to 22 March 2021.
The release of the United Nations World Water Development Report on the ‘World Water Day’:
It is during the ‘World Water Day’ that United Nations will also release its World Water Development Report. This would essentially lay emphasis on the true value of water and its impact on people around the world. Furthermore, it would include some recommendations to policy makers with regards to water and the need to preserve this precious natural resource.
A planned schedule of the 2021 online ‘World Water Day’:
Based on the theme ‘Valuing Water’ the ‘World Water Day’ which is to be conducted online on 22 March 2021 a schedule has been set by the organizers. The timetable is as follows:
1. 13:00 – 13:40 High-Level Opening Ceremony
2. Master of Ceremony Ms. Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, FAO
3. Welcoming address by Mr. QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO
4. Opening address by Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO
5. Opening address by Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Chair, UN-Water and President of IFAD
6. Message from Special Guests
7. His Holiness Pope Francis
8. H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, President, Republic of Senegal (TBC)
9. H.E. Ms. Marina Sereni, Vice Minister of the Republic of Italy
10. H.E. Mr. Jonathan Malagón González, Minister of Housing, Cities and Territory of the Republic of Colombia
11. Henk Ovink- Special Envoy International Water Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands
12. 13:40 – 13:50 Presentation of the UN World Water Development Report 2021
13. Ms. Michela Miletto, Coordinator and Director, UNESCO WWAP
14. 13:50 – 14:25 Interactive discussion – what does water mean to you?
15. Moderator Mr. Neil Dhot, Executive Director, Aquafed (UK)
16. Ms. Rasha Hassan, Governance Coordinator, Water Youth Network (Syria)
18. Mr. Mohammed Hammie Rajab, Journalist and Facilitator of Change, Media for Community Empowerment (Civil Society Organisation) (Tanzania)
19. Keynote listener Mr. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (Spain)
20. 14:25 – 14:30 Announcement of the winner of the Stockholm Water Prize
21. Mr. Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director, SIWI (Sweden)
22. 14:30 Closing of the celebration
