Celebration of World Water Day 2019 “Leaving no one behind”
Whoever you are, wherever you are, water is your human right.
The World Water Day is held annually on the 22nd of March 2019 to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This year’s World Water Day theme is “Leaving no one behind” as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The WWDR 2019 "Leaving no one behind" reinforces the commitments made by the UN Member States in adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in recognizing the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, both of which are essential for eradicating poverty and for building prosperous, peaceful societies.
The objective of the event
The event aims to celebrate the World Water Day at FAO headquarters and to present the UN World Water Development Report 2019 “Leaving no one behind”, the UN-Water flagship report on water. It will highlight how improvements in water resources management and access to water supply and sanitation services are essential to overcoming poverty and addressing various other social and economic inequities.
Agenda
Introductory remarks:
12.30-12.35
Opening by moderator –Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director,
Land and Water Division
12.35-12.40
Video message
José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO
12.40-12.45
Introductory remarks
René Castro-Salazar, Assistant Director-General, Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water Department, FAO
12.45-12.50
Special message from His Holiness, Pope Francis read by His Excellency Monseigneur Fernando Chica Arellano, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to FAO.
12.50-13.00
Presentation of the UN World Water Development Report 2019 “Leaving no one behind”
Michela Miletto, Deputy Coordinator, World Water Assessment Programme, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
13.00-13.25
High-Level panel:
- His Excellency Alfonso María Dastis Quecedo, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Spain to FAO
- His Excellency Carlos Aparicio Vela, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
- Mr. Abdoulaye Sene, President of the Preparatory Committee for the Organization of the 9th World Water Forum “Dakar 2021”
- Dr. Emanuela Castellano, Azione per un Mondo Unito
13.25-13.30
Closing remarks
Moderator - Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division
Interpretation will be available in English, French and Spanish.
Publications
World Water Development Report 2019
Related links:
World Water Day Official Website
FAO Strategic Programme “Reduce rural poverty”