From 22-24 March 2023, United Nations Member States, civil society, and other stakeholders will gather in New York for the UN 2023 Water Conference, to unite the world for water. The primary goal of the Conference is to raise awareness of the global water crisis and commit to joint action to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, such as Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
United Nations 2023 Water Conference
At the current rate of progress, the international community will not realize the human rights to water and sanitation or reach the water-related targets of the Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030. Water is critically important to development – from health and well-being, to food security, energy production, robust ecosystems, climate adaptation, poverty reduction, and more. In the coming years, water-related challenges will only continue to increase in urgency. We need to accelerate progress, and we need to act now.
The Justice Coalition of Religious has created a guide to the UN 2023 Water Conference, including information about the event, how you can participate virtually, and suggested advocacy messaging for social media. Visit our website, to access this new guide in English, Spanish, and French. We encourage you to use this resource and share it with your networks to add your voice to these important conversations, uniting the world to uphold the human rights to water and sanitation.
Are you working in a ministry that helps to provide safe drinking water or sanitation? Do you help protect the health of oceans, seas, rivers, or lakes? If so, you are invited and encouraged to tell the story of your contribution as part of the UN’s upcoming 2023 Water Conference. The main outcome of this conference will be a set of “pledges” from the global community, including governments, corporations, and all of us in civil society. There are two primary pathways through which you are invited to submit to the UN a description of your commitments related to water and sanitation.
Share the commitments of a group (congregation, community, NGO, parish, etc.):
Complete the Justice Coalition of Religious’s form by 20 March to add your group’s project or initiative to the UN’s collection of Water Action Agenda commitments
Share your personal commitments: Visit the UNWater’s “Be the Change” website to create and submit your own “action list,” ways in which you commit to do your part as an individual to build a world where everyone can enjoy safe drinking water and sanitation.
If you are not already taking action toward safe water and sanitation for all, consider exploring this fun “Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World” for help in making a plan for yourself or your community!
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