The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) celebrates World Water Day 2024 and 30 years of the Danube River Protection Convention

UNIS/OUS/440
22 March 2024

The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) celebrates World Water Day 2024 and 30 years of the Danube River Protection Convention

VIENNA, 22 March (UN Information Service) - The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) is joining the global community in observing World Water Day on March 22^nd and commemorating the 30^th anniversary of the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC). This year's theme, "Water for Peace," underscores the critical role of water management in fostering peace, supporting communities, and sustaining our environment, reflecting three decades of transboundary cooperation under the Convention.

As an organization committed to ensuring the sustainable and equitable use of waters in the Danube River Basin, the ICPDR is deeply aligned with this year's theme. ICPDR is celebrating 30 years of the Convention, the major legal framework for cooperation and transboundary water management in the Danube River Basin, which has been the foundation of its efforts to unite countries, communities, and individuals in a shared mission to protect and manage its water resources wisely.

The ICPDR 2024 President, Vladimír Novák, said: "By working together, we are not only enhancing the health of our shared waters in the Danube River Basin but also contributing to the peace and security of our region. In the spirit of 'Leveraging Water for Peace', and commemorating 30 years of the Convention, we at the ICPDR are dedicated to promoting cooperation across transboundary borders to ensure the quality, equitable and sustainable use of our water resources."

"Cooperating to safeguard water can power and sustain peace," says United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in his message for World Water Day, "Water stewardship can strengthen multilateralism and ties between communities, and build resilience to climate disasters. It can also drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals - which are the foundation of peaceful societies - including by improving health, reducing poverty and inequality, and boosting food and water security."

In line with the theme of leveraging water for peace, the ICPDR continues the collaboration, both within the Danube River Basin and with its international partners. ICPDR's efforts are guided by the principles of the Convention, emphasizing the importance of balancing human needs with the health of aquatic ecosystems.

President, Vladimír Novák added: "This World Water Day, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the Danube and its tributaries. We recognize the essential role of water in maintaining peace, supporting ecosystems and ecosystem services, and enabling prosperity. The ICPDR stands ready to lead by example, fostering initiatives that protect water resources, promote peace, and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals."

For more information on the ICPDR's work and the Danube River Basin, visit our website at www.icpdr.org.

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For further information, please contact:

Hélène Masliah-Gilkarov
Public Participation and Communication
ICPDR Secretariat at UNOV
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4373
Mobile: (+43 676) 845 200 220
Email: helene.masliah-gilkarov[at]icpdr.org
Web: www.icpdr.org

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