1992年12月22日，联合国大会的47/193号决议设立了世界水日（每年3月22日）。这是提醒公众重视水资源问题的一个特殊的日子。在这个日子里，我们可以意识到：向人们提供纯净饮用水的切实努力和世界范围内对于水问题的认识提高，能够帮助我们在水资源问题上，做得更出色。

在2003年12月23日的58/217号决议中，大会宣布从2005年3月22日的世界水日开始，2005年至2015年为“生命之水”国际行动十年。

2006年世界水日的主题是“水与文化”，将由联合国教科文领导。

About World Water Day

World Day for Water, or unofficially World Water Day (WWD), occurs each year on March 22, as designated by United Nations General Assembly resolution.

This day was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Observance was expected to begin in 1993 and has grown significantly ever since.

The UN invited its member nations to devote this day to implementing¹ UN recommendations and promoting concrete activities within their countries. Each year, one of various UN agencies involved in water issues takes the lead in promoting and coordinating² international activities for WWD.

World Day for Water 2006: Water and Culture

WWD 2006 will be guided by the theme 'Water and Culture' under the leadership of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015
2005-2015年“生命之水”国际行动十年

Water is crucial for sustainable development, including the preservation³ of our natural environment and the alleviation⁴ of poverty and hunger. Water is indispensable for human health and well-being⁵.

The United Nations General Assembly, in December 2003, proclaimed the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life'.

The 'Water for Life' Decade was launched on 22nd March 2005 by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan with the following video message:

Dear friends,

Water is essential for life. Yet many millions of people around the world face water shortages. Many millions of children die every year from water-borne diseases. And drought regularly afflicts⁶ some of the world's poorest countries. The world needs to respond much better. We need to increase water efficiency, especially in agriculture. We need to free women and girls from the daily chore of hauling water, often over great distances. We must involve them in decision-making on water management. We need to make sanitation⁷ a priority. This is where progress is lagging most. And we must show that water resources need not be a source of conflict. Instead, they can be a catalyst⁸ for cooperation. Significant gains have been made. But a major effort is still required. That is why this year marks the beginning of the "Water for Life" Decade. Our goal is to meet the internationally agreed targets for water and sanitation by 2015, and to build the foundation for further progress in the years beyond.

This is an urgent matter of human development, and human dignity. Together, we can provide safe, clean water to all the world's people. The world's water resources are our lifeline for survival, and for sustainable development in the 21st century. Together, we must manage them better.