..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date: 18 March 2011
Note to Editor No. N/05/2011

“Water and Urbanisation”

WORLD WATER DAY 2011 TO BE CELEBRATED ON 22 MARCH IN BANGKOK

Bangkok (UN ESCAP Information Services) - The United Nations in Bangkok will celebrate World Water Day (WWD) on 22 March 2011 under the theme of “Water and Urbanisation- Responding to the Urban Challenge.”

This year's theme emphasizes the impact of rapid urbanization on water resources management and on equitable access to water and sanitation services. Facing a growing demand for water, cities around the Asia-Pacific region are overexploiting available resources. With large sections of the urban population living in low-quality housing, in slums and squatter settlements, providing adequate water and sanitation facilities is a huge challenge. The Water Day provides opportunities to encourage action by governments, cities, towns, public and private organizations, and civil society organisations and communities around the world to actively engage in addressing the challenges and seizing opportunities of urban water management through disseminating knowledge of innovative approaches.

The global observance of WWD 2011 will be hosted by the Government of South Africa in Cape Town, while in Thailand a large-scale event is hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the lead UN agency for this year’s WWD theme, will also be commemorating the WWD2011 on Tuesday, 22 March 2011 at the UN Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok.

The Commemorations at the UNCC will start with an exhibition and Opening Ceremony and continue with a field trip to the Bang Bua Community, in the outskirts of Bangkok, to highlight how people protect their Klong and manage their own sanitation as part of an inspiring community-driven and holistic slum upgrading process.

The World Water Day was established after the recommendation of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/47/193 of 22 December 1992, declared 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water. The objective of the World Water Day is to increase public awareness on value of water and to promote sustainable water resources use.

NOTE TO EDITORS
You or your representatives are cordially invited to the World Water Day Commemoration on Tuesday, 22 March 2011 from 9:00 to 9:30 am the UN Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok. Please see attached tentative programme.

For more information, visit
http://www.unescap.org/esd/Energy-Security-and-Water-Resources/water/events/wwd/2011/

To sign up for the event, please contact the listed.

Thawadi Pachariyangkun
United Nations ESCAP Information Services (UNIS)
Tel: +(66) 22881861
Email: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

Ti Le-Huu
Energy Security and Water Resources Section
Environment and Development Division
ESCAP
Tel: (+66) 22881450
Email: ti.unescap@un.org
Or
Nawaporn Wanichkorn
Tel: (+66) 22882174
Email: wanichkorn@un.org

Mariko Sato
UN-HABITAT
Tel : (+66) 22882852
Email: satom@un.org

WORLD WATER DAY 2011
TENTATIVE PROGRAMME

Theater, Ground Floor
United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC)
Tuesday, 22 March 2010

0830-0900 hours - Registration

0900-0920 hours - Opening Ceremony

Moderator: Ms. Mariko Sato, Director, UN-Habitat Thailand
Message by the United Nations Secretary-General on World Water Day 2011

- Opening remarks: Mr. Nagesh Kumar, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary
and Officer-in-Charge, a.i., of ESCAP

- Keynote speech on World Water Day 2011 and Announcement for the Asia Pacific Water Summit 2012 by Mr. Chote Trachu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Royal Thai Government

- Presentation on Baan Mankong programme, Thailand’s city wide upgrading by Mr. Prapaat Sangpradap, Bang Bua Community Leader

0930-0945 hours - Exhibition Visit and Coffee Break

0950-1000 hours - Travel by bus to Bang Bua Community

1115 – 1145 hours - Visit to Bang Bua Community: Presentation on Community-driven and holistic upgrading process at Bang Bua community with a focus on water and sanitation and on water-related environmental aspects and discussions with community members

1145 – 1215 hours - Visit of the decentralized water treatment facility and "ceremony" to release EM and water plants into the Klong

1230-1330 hours - Bus back to ESCAP - UNCC

Note: Exhibition on Water and Urbanization to take place from 21 to 22 March 2011 at the UNCC