International Day of Action for Rivers

• 16 Mar 2023

On March 14, 2023, the 26th Anniversary of the International Day of Action for Rivers was celebrated by communities around the world.

• The aim of the day is to raise voices in unison against destructive water development projects, reclaim the health of watersheds, and demand the equitable and sustainable management of rivers.
• The event was organized in India by the Centre for Research and Advocacy (CRA) Manipur.
• The day was dedicated to solidarity, with diverse communities coming together to raise their voices in support of clean and flowing water.
• It highlighted the importance of freshwater ecosystems, and the need for everyone to have a say in decisions that affect their water and their lives.
• It also highlighted the importance of being a protector and voice for rivers, which are central to our lives and the survival of life on earth.
• Despite their importance, freshwater ecosystems are the most threatened in the world, with freshwater species experiencing an 83% decline since 1970, twice the rate experienced within terrestrial or marine ecosystems.
• Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, over 50 direct actions were registered across 23 countries/nation-states, with hundreds more joining in via social media and digital outreach.
• The International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water and Lifewas adopted in March 1997, and representatives from 20 countries decided that the International Day of Action for Rivers would take place on March 14.