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World Water Day

Worldwide events

World Water Day celebrations and High Level Forum

22 March 2013, The Hague, The Netherlands

Location: World Forum, Churchillplein 10  The World Water Day celebrations organized by the United Nations and the Government of The Netherlands in The Hague will address both water cooperation and the outcomes from the Thematic Consultation on Water in the post-2015 agenda. The programme of the day involves political and governmental leaders and members of the UN High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, and includes inspirational speeches, presentations and interactive discussions. A series of thematic sessions will also give the opportunity to reflect on the different dimensions of water cooperation, and bring new ideas and innovative approaches from different sectors of society. Challenges identified on 21 March at the Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on Water organized by the Dutch Government will be incorporated in the thematic sessions.		>Download the program > Media accreditation - Send a request> Media contacts   > Stakeholder dialogue, 21 March > Public events in The Hague > The World We Want - Water Consultation

Video streaming (22 March, 9am - 5pm)

Programme

Moderation all day by: Ms. Kitty van der Heijden and Mr. Paul Hohnen 

9.30			welcome by Mr. Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague
			Video message of Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
			Keynote speech on water cooperation by Ms. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General
			Keynote speech on water in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
			Keynote on the process and results of the Global Thematic Consultation on water and the post-2015 water agenda by Mr. Michel Jarraud, Chair of UN-Water
			“Water for Life” UN-Water Best Practices Award. The name of the winners will be announced by Mr. Michel Jarraud
			Report on the outcomes of the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Water (21 March) as inputs for the break-out sessions and introduction of purpose of thematic sessions by Ms. Kitty van der Heijden, Netherlands Ambassador for Sustainable Development and moderator to the conference
10.30			Thematic break-out sessions on water cooperation
			Introduction to the break-out sessions by HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan
			- Water Cooperation is key to poverty reduction social equity and gender equality - Water Cooperation creates economic benefits - Water Cooperation helps preserve water resources and protect the environment - Water Cooperation builds peace
12.30			Lunch
			Presentation of the annual Stockholm Water Price by Mr Torgny Holmgren, Stockholm International Water Institute
			Closure and wrap up by moderators of the thematic sessions on water cooperation and link up with the multi stakeholder dialogue held on 21 March in The Hague
14.00			Premiere of new short film "Water Footprint"
			Key-note speech by HRH the Prince of Orange, Chair of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB)
			High-level Forum
			The objectives of the High-Level Forum are: 1. To raise the profile of “water cooperation” on the agendas of policy and decision makers, water professionals and the wider public and to show the positive link between improved water cooperation and a water secure world. 2. To submit the main messages from ‘The World We Want’ Global Thematic Consultation on Water to the UN High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.  The Forum will provide an opportunity to hear from high-profile representatives of different sectors of society, including civil society, public policy or the private sector. Some are directly concerned with water, while others deal with the topic indirectly. To promote interaction with the High Level Forum pre-selected questions from the audience will be brought to the attention of the High Level Forum members.
			Co-chairs:  Ms. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General   Mr. Michel Jarraud, UN-Water Chair Moderators: Mr. Bai-Mass Taal, Executive Secretary of AMCOW  Mr. András Szöllösi-Nagy, Rector UNESCO-IHE
			Panel: HRH The Prince of Orange, Chair of UNSGAB HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan, Co-host of the Global Thematic Consultations on Water Ms. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, Chairwoman of the High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda Mr. Francisco Pereira, Vice Minister of Public Works of Mozambique Mr. Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever and member of the High Level Panel on the post-2015 Development Agenda  Ms. Betty Maina, CEO of the Kenyan Association of Manufacturers and member of the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
16.00			Interactive videolink between the High-Level Interactive Dialogue on Water Cooperation in New York and the High Level Forum in The Hague
			Launch of “Walking for Water International” by Mr Sjef Ernes, Aqua for All
			Closure keynote by Ms. Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, The Netherlands A representative from the Government of Hungary to introduce the Water Summit in Budapest (foreseen)

Public events in The Hague

Walking for Water

Walking for Water is an awareness and fundraising initiative. School children aged 10-15 are sponsored by friends and family to walk 6 kilometres while carrying 6 litres of water in a backpack. Children learn about global water issues, while raising funds to help solve them. 

Movies that Matter

The upcoming edition of the Movies that Matter Festival will take place in The Hague  from March 21st-March 27th. Movies that Matter Foundation, an initiative of Amnesty International, organises wide-ranging film programmes in which human rights take centre stage.

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