Actions taken in organizing the activities of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015

Report of the United Nations General Secretary, 25 July 2005. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 59/228, in which the Assembly, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to submit to it at its sixtieth session a report on the activities planned by the Secretary-General and relevant organizations of the United Nations system for the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015. The Assembly also recalled its resolution 55/196, by which it had proclaimed 2003 the International Year of Freshwater, and its resolution 58/217, by which it had proclaimed 2005-2015 the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, to commence on 22 March 2005. The latter resolution stated the goals of the Decade and called upon the relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, regional commissions and other organizations of the United Nations system to deliver a coordinated response, utilizing existing resources and voluntary funds to make 2005-2015 a decade of action. The report outlines the activities that were prepared for the launch of the Decade on 22 March 2005, some concrete initial actions for the Decade at the regional level, proposals for a public information strategy and a communications plan for awareness-raising, and provides some recommendations for action to be taken during the course of the Decade.