World Water Day 2025: A United and Committed Youth for the Future of Water and the Planet

On March 22, we rallied worldwide to celebrate World Water Day, a global call to action to protect this essential resource for both present and future generations. At the International Secretariat for Water, we brought together our partners, youth networks, and civil society to raise awareness and encourage action.

We Are Water: From Bali to Martinique, a Global Mobilization for Water

On the occasion of World Water Day 2025, youth from all over the world united to defend water, a vital and endangered resource. In Martinique, this mobilization took the form of the artistic performance and advocacy event “We Are Water“, organized by the International Secretariat for Water as part of the official program of Water Week, in partnership with the Water Office of Martinique. This event marked the third performance of the “We Are Water” campaign, which was first launched in Bali during the 10th World Water Forum.

The Story of the “We Are Water” Campaign: This project was initiated by the International Secretariat for Water in collaboration with the youth of the World Youth Parliament for Water, the Bali Youth Parliament for Water, and artist Liina Klauss, supported by the SDC as part of the 1 Million Youth Actions Challenge (1MYAC). Together, we launched a significant artistic action: collecting a ton of plastic waste, symbolizing the urgency of preserving water resources. This initiative aims to strengthen the actions of young people aged 10 to 30, using art as a means of advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

After Bali, the journey continued with stops in Azerbaijan, culminating in Martinique, where it took place during World Water Day as part of Water Week, organized by the Water Office of Martinique. This fifth edition of Water Week brought together hundreds of participants for training sessions, conferences, and workshops to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable water management, especially in the context of climate change.

In Martinique, the “We Are Water” performance highlighted the fragility of mangrove ecosystems and the impact of plastic pollution, emphasizing the need for responsible consumption and the protection of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. This action is an integral part of the 1MYAC project, an initiative by the SDC coordinated by the ISW, which continues to support youth-led actions.

Together, Ensuring Water for Future Generations

World Water Day, combined with the very first World Glaciers Day, provided a moment of reflection and action for the preservation of glaciers and our water resources. In partnership with youth networks such as UNESCO’s Groundwater Youth Network, the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW), and CAY4Water, the ISW co-organized a high-level event at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris.

This event brought together policymakers, scientists, world leaders, and members of civil society around crucial issues related to the state of global glaciers and their impact on water security. Youth took center stage during the event titled “Can YOUth save a melting generation?”, sharing concrete and innovative solutions to address water challenges in the context of climate change.

Among the influential youth voices, we extend a special thanks to Hasmik Barseghyan and Magdalena Zivanovic, past and current presidents of the European Youth Parliament for Water, Lucija Plantak, head of UNESCO’s scientific committee for the Groundwater Youth Network, and Bekhruz Yusupov, communications officer for CAY4Water, for engaging in powerful dialogue with representatives from UNESCO, international foundations, and the private sector.

This event marks a decisive step toward sustainable and collaborative solutions for global water management, with a strong youth presence at the heart of discussions on the future of water.

Never before has it been so crucial for the world’s youth for water to unite and speak with one voice in defense of essential principles: water as a fundamental human right, as a vector of peace, dialogue, and cooperation.

If you are ready to take action, if you want to join a community of young people committed to protecting water, then this voice is yours. Together, we can make a difference