The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March as World Water Day in 1993. Each year since then World Water Day has been held on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This coming World Water Day on 22 March 2011 will be the first since the United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Commission adopted resolutions declaring the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right.

 

To celebrate World Water 2011, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands will each convene National Water Summits. These Summits aim to benchmark the state of water resources and their management in each country. It is anticipated that National Water Committees and Framework National Water and Sanitation Policies will be launched by each country during their National Summits.