The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water by adopting a resolution. This world day for water was to be observed starting in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development contained in chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21.

States were invited to devote the Day to implement the UN recommendations and set up concrete activities as deemed appropriate in the national context.

The Subcommittee welcomes the assistance offered by IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre to contribute to an information network centre in support of the observance of the Day by Governments, as required.

世界水日是人類在20世紀末確定的又一個節日。為滿足人們日常生活、商業和農業對水資源的需求，聯合國長期以來致力于解決因水資源需求上升而引起的全球性水危機。1977年召開的“聯合國水事會議”，向全世界發出嚴正警告：水資源短缺不久將成為一個深刻的社會危機，繼石油危機之后的下一個危機便是水。1993年1月18日，第四十七屆聯合國大會做出決議，確定每年的3月22日為“世界水日”。

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）