This year’s theme for the United Nations observance of International Women’s Day is “Equal rights, equal opportunities: progress for all” as a contribution to the fifteenth anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women. The purpose of the event is to renew international commitment to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action as a key instrument for the full realization of the Millennium Development Goals. This event, organized by the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality, will be held on 3 March 2010, from 10 am to 12 noon at United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 1.

The programme for the Day is divided in two parts. The first segment (10 - 10:45am) will feature statements by the Secretary-General, H.E. Ms. Meng Xiaosi, Minister and Vice-Chairperson of the National Committee on Women and Children, China and H. E. Mr. Audon Lysbakken, Minister for Gender Equality and Children’s Affairs, Norway drawing attention to the 15th anniversary of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The second segment (10:45 am – 12:00 noon) will be an interactive panel discussion entitled “Beijing at 15: the Unfinished Agenda” devoted to exchange of experiences, lessons learned, and good practices, as well as to identify persisting gaps and challenges in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. The panel presents an opportunity to inspire a new generation of women’s rights advocates and to identify some of the key challenges that remain despite the promise that the Beijing Conference signified for the women all over the world.

In celebrating International Women’s Day 2010, progress made, rather than the challenges encountered since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action almost 15 years ago, should serve as an inspiration to do more. The 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action provides an opportunity to all in the United Nations to recommit to enhanced efforts to ensure the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

For more information: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/

World Water Day

22 March

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

This international day was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and the United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

This year’s theme will be "Clean Water for a Healthy World", reflecting its importance alongside quantity of the resource in water management. Its campaign is envisaged to raise awareness about sustaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being through addressing the increasing water quality challenges in water management.

It will also raise the profile of water quality by encouraging governments, organizations, communities, and individuals around the world to actively engage in proactively addressing water quality e.g. in pollution prevention, clean up and restoration.

World Water Day 2010 activities will include the World Water Day 2010 website, communication and outreach materials, key publications and flagship initiatives around water quality, a global event on water quality around 22 March 2010, a policy dialogue for global commitment to address water quality, ecosystems, and human well-being challenges at key global political events.

For more information: http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/