water is essential for life. yet many millions of people around the world face water shortages. many millions of children die every year from water-borne diseases. and drought regularly afflicts some of the world's poorest countries. the world needs to respond much better. we need to increase water efficiency, especially in agriculture. we need to free women and girls from the daily chore of hauling water, often over great distances. we must involve them in decision-making on water management. we need to make sanitation a priority. this is where progress is lagging most. and we must show that water resources need not be a source of conflict. instead, they can be a catalyst for cooperation. significant gains have been made. but a major effort is still required. that is why this year marks the beginning of the "water for life" decade. our goal is to meet the internationally agreed targets for water and sanitation by 20xx, and to build the foundation for further progress in the years beyond.
this is an urgent matter of human development, and human dignity. together, we can provide safe, clean water to all the world's people. the world's water resources are our lifeline for survival, and for sustainable development in the 21st century. together, we must manage them better.
水是生命必不可少的。但數以百萬計的世界各地的人們面臨水資源短缺。每年數百萬兒童死於水源性疾病。定期和乾旱折磨一些世界上最貧困的國家。世界需要更好的回應。我們需要增加水的效率,特別是在農業。我們需要免費的日常家務的婦女和女童拖水,經常在很遠的地方。我們必須讓他們參與水管理決策。我們需要優先考慮衛生。這就是進步是最落後的。我們必須表明,水資源不需要衝突的來源。相反,他們可以合作的催化劑。顯著的收益。但一個主要的努力仍然是必需的。這就是為什麼今年是“生命之水”十年的開始。我們的目標是滿足對水和衛生設施的國際商定的目標,到20xx年,並在多年的建設進一步發展的基礎。
這是一個緊急的人類發展的問題,和人類的尊嚴。在一起,我們可以提供安全、乾淨的水,世界上所有的人。世界上的水資源是我們的生存的生命線,並在21世紀可持續發展。在一起,我們必須更好地管理它們。