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WORLD DAY FOR WATER (A/C.2/47/L.63)

Even though the Razali Group was only initially responsible for five resolutions, there was also an interest in having a resolution to establish a "World Day for Water". This resolution was discussed on Wednesday, 25 November, the final meeting of the Razali Group. Razali announced that whereas the draft resolution declares 21 March of each year as World Day for Water, it turns out that this is the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination. So instead, 22 March has been proposed. Canada then said that they had not been consulted on the date. Canada has about one-fifth of the freshwater resources of the world, but in March most of its freshwater is frozen. She then said that World Environment Day is on 5 June and maybe Water Day could be the day before or after since by that time Canada's freshwater would be thawed. Razali responded that a large number of days are already spoken for in the international calendar and 22 March was chosen because it is the beginning of spring, even though that season is only seen in some parts of the world.

Japan then said that his delegation also had a problem with the date since it is an important day for Buddhists, who go to the temples to hold dialogues with their ancestors. He went on to say that Japan has already designated 1 April as Water Day. Taking this into account, he proposed amending paragraph 2 to include the phrase "to the extent that it is possible to do so in the context of their socio-economic circumstances and cultural traditions and without prejudice to already established practices of this nature at the national level". Morocco and Benin did not think such an amendment was necessary. India proposed a compromise "Invites States to devote this day, as appropriate in the national context, to concrete activities...". This language was accepted.

The only other paragraph to generate discussion was paragraph 6, which reads "Recommends that the Commission on Sustainable Development, in the execution of its mandate, attach priority to the implementation of Chapter 18 of Agenda 21". India proposed inserting the word "highest" before "priority". The US and Japan believed that this resolution should not tell the CSD where it should place its priorities. After a number of delegates made their views known, Razali proposed leaving the paragraph as originally written, since the intention of the resolution is to give priority to this issue by establishing the World Day for Water. Everyone agreed and the resolution was approved.

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