World Water Day is an international observance day that serves as a global campaign to raise awareness among people about the importance of clean water for the sustainability of life.
The celebration of World Water Day was first proposed during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) or the Earth Summit held on December 22, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The UN General Assembly designated World Water Day on March 22, 1993, through Resolution number 147/1993. Since then, the global community, especially UN member states, have been observing World Water Day every March 22.
The theme of World Water Day celebrations each year is tailored to address water resource issues considered important and in need of international attention. For instance, the theme for World Water Day 2022 was "Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible."
Leveraging Water for Peace
This year's World Water Day pays special attention to the benefits of sustainable water management as a conduit for peace and humanity. Proper water resources management involving multiple stakeholders and communities is considered crucial for creating collective prosperity.
According to UN Water, the theme for the 2024 World Water Day campaign is "Leveraging Water for Peace," which emphasizes the vital role of water in human social systems and the importance of cross-border governance integration in sustainable utilization of water resources.
Furthermore, there are three aspects that should not be overlooked in water management: utilization, preservation, and control. These three aspects are integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
World Water Day in Indonesia
The 32nd celebration of World Water Day in Indonesia was marked by various activities, beginning with regional initiatives such as "SDA Goes To School" to educate the younger generation about the importance of water. A total of 3,000 participants from high school education levels have engaged in this event.
Meanwhile, for university students, the Indonesian Government will host simultaneous talk shows on March 22nd, inviting representatives from academia, local governments, working partners, and communities involved in environmental conservation and water resources preservation.
World Water Day is also celebrated nationally with a Scientific Works Competition themed "Water for Shared Prosperity", open to high school students nationwide. A total of 1,044 papers from various schools have been registered, vying for the Ministry of Public Works and Housing Trophy and the opportunity to attend the 10th World Water Forum in Bali.
The Importance of Water Resources
It is not an exaggeration to say that the role of water resources is as crucial as oil. Water is a vital resource for industrial, agricultural, and consumption purposes, as well as for sanitation. Its existence cannot be replaced or created by humans.
Recent reports from the World Bank and FAO indicate that water can be a factor that significantly increases the risk of conflicts if it is not managed properly, especially in regions with limited water supply such as North Africa.
Therefore, sustainable water resource management plays a crucial role as a peacekeeping measure. This also needs to be supported by other programs to advocate for long-term solutions to water management.
The main theme of the upcoming 10th World Water Forum, to be held in Bali from May 18 to 25, 2024, "Water for Shared Prosperity," aligns with the spirit of World Water Day to achieve the common goal of water as a source of collective well-being.