The United Nations Office to support the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" 2005-2015/UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) hosts the UN-Water meeting from 8 to 9 February 2012 in Zaragoza, Spain. In this meeting, the chairmanship will be handed over from the current UN-Water Chair Mr. Adeel Zafar, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), to the World Meteorological Organization's Secretary-General Mr. Michel Jarraud. The meeting gathers the directors and coordinators of the 28 UN-Water member agencies, programmes and departments of the United Nations.

The meeting focuses on the approval of changes in the UN-Water organizational structure and rules, as well as on the ratification of the 2012-2013 work programme. Furthermore, the coordinators of the different taskforces, Thematic Priority Areas and the directors of the three UN-Water programmes will assess and inform about up to date and on-going tasks in UN-Water activities.

The purpose of the meeting is also to decide about the participation of UN-Water in upcoming major international events; it will also deal with aspects regarding Integrated Water Resources Management in the Rio+20 Summit (June 2012). It is hence the last internal preparatory meeting in the United Nations concerning this international summit.

As an inter-agency coordination mechanism, UN-Water consists by today of 28 members out of United Nations organizations, programmes, departments, major funds and conventions. The ultimate objective of UN-Water and thus of the biannual meeting is to enhance coherence and coordination regarding UN initiatives in the water and sanitation agenda.

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The Future We Want - Drop by Drop Ad Competition. Deadline 29 February 2012

Calling European Artivists! Water is life's most precious resource. Make an ad for the UN to inspire others to use water wisely. Drop by Drop, an initiative of the UN Regional Information Centre (UNRIC), in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers, is part of 'The Future We Want': the UN's global conversation on the Rio+20 Conference.
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Application period for Internship Programme

The United Nations Office to support the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015 opens the application period for 2012-2013 internships. Deadline for applications for 1. June to July 2012 internships is 15 March 2012.
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EVENTS

Experts dialogue on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. 7 February 2012. Zaragoza, Spain

How does the Human Right to Water and Sanitation apply to countries in need? Is enough being done to implement the Right to Sanitation? How will the economic crisis affect the implementation of the Right to Water and Sanitation? These and other questions will be addressed during the Dialogue on the Human Right to Water and Sanitation that will take place on 7 February 2012 at the Ebro River Basin Authority in Zaragoza, Spain. The event is organized by the UN Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC), the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Ebro River Basin Authority and the University of Zaragoza. Experts such as Robert Bos and Antonio Embid will offer their insights on the pressing matters regarding the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. An open dialogue will close the session inviting attendees to share their opinions and considerations about a matter concerning us all.
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The United Nations Office to support the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" 2005-2015 hosts the UN-Water meeting. 8 – 9 February 2012. Zaragoza, Spain