2013 designated as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation by UNGA

2013 designated as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation by UNGA

March 29th, 2013

Subsequent to a proposal initiated by Tajikistan, in 2010 UN General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2013 as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation via its resolution : A/RES/65/154.
UN-Water has asked UNESCO to lead the initiative keeping in view of the UNESCO’s multi-dimensional potency in the region of natural and social sciences, culture, education and communication, and its substantial and long-standing contribution to the management of the world’s freshwater resources.
What is the objective of designating 2013 as International Year of Water Co-operation ?

• In assigning 2013 as the UN International Year of Water Cooperation, the UNGA has actually made out that cooperation is necessary to attain a balance between the various needs and priorities and share this valued resource equitably, using water as an instrument of peace.
• Encouraging water cooperation means an interdisciplinary approach bringing in cultural, educational and scientific factors, as well as religious, ethical, social, political, legal, institutional and economic dimensions.

• The UNGA designating March 22, 1993 as the first World Water Day.
• Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater.