Press Release

UNITED NATIONS DECLARES 2003 AS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FRESHWATER

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater. The UN resolution, initiated by the Government of Tajikistan and supported by 148 other countries, was adopted on December 20, 2000. It encourages Governments, the UN System and all other actors to take advantage of the Year to increase awareness of the importance of sustainable freshwater use, management and protection. It also calls upon governments, national and international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to make voluntary contributions and to lend other forms of support to the Year.

The International Year of Freshwater provides an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of the principles of integrated water resources management, and will be used as a platform for promoting existing activities and spearheading new initiatives in water resources at the international, regional and national levels. The International Year of Freshwater is expected to follow up on agreements reached at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, September 2002), and should have an impact far beyond the year 2003. The publication by the United Nations system of the World Water Development Report will be a major focus of the Year's public information activities. Its first edition will be launched at the Third World Water Forum, to be held in Kyoto, Japan in March 2003. Further information on the International Year of Freshwater can be obtained from:

Ms. Marcia Brewster
Water, Natural Resources, and SIDS Branch
Division for Sustainable Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
2 United Nations Plaza, DC2 - 2020
New York, NY 10017, USA
e-mail: brewster@un.org