AWARENESS: World Water Day [22 March]

Today, we observe the World Water Day!

Convened by the UN-Water, it’s an observance day that highlights the importance of freshwater, and to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The theme for 2019 is "Leaving no one behind" and encourages people to consider marginalized groups as these are often overlooked and discriminated against when they try to access safe water.

In CSDS, water is an integral topic that is discussed frequently under several of our working themes. Under Resource Politics, we highlights the issues of water governance and water security, with our project such as Water governance and access to water in Hakha Town, Chin State, Myanmar. Under Rethinking Regionalization, we highlights the issue of transboundary water governance through our project     Water governance and knowledge production on the Lancang-Mekong River. Meanwhile, under Human Rights, Human Security, and Justice, we questions the accountability of large hydropower construction on transboundary rivers through a rights-based approach with our project Transboundary Rivers: Arenas of Justice.

Most recently, we’ve also published a policy brief titled Reciprocal Transboundary Cooperation on the Lancang-Mekong River: Towards an Inclusive and Ecological Relationship which assessed emerging principles for transboundary water cooperation under the LMC, in particular the concept of reciprocity that expands upon the UN Water Courses Convention. It also assesses the role of the LMC vis-a-vis the Mekong River Commission in transboundary water governance.

Illustrations for the promotional materials of the 2019 World Water Day Campaign “Leaving no one behind.” Right to left: Water for all older people, Water for all refugees, Water for all rural people. Images: UN Water.

For more information about the World Water Day and additional downloadable resources, please visit the official United Nations website.