The MDPI World Water Day 2026 Webinar: “Water for All People – Governance, Security, and Access”. 

Every year on March 22, the international community celebrates World Water Day. Its purpose is to draw global attention to the importance of protecting and preserving freshwater, which is a fundamental condition for the existence of human civilization. The proposal to establish this day was introduced by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (1992). One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6) is to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Currently, about 2.2 billion people still live without access to safe water. This issue has become particularly urgent for Ukraine under wartime conditions. Each year, UN-Water determines a specific theme for discussion. In 2026, the theme is “Water and Gender” under the slogan “Where water flows, equality grows”.

Within the EU_NITRA_UKR project, the gender aspect plays a crucial role, as nitrate pollution primarily poses a threat to pregnant women and infants.

Project Coordinator Larysa VOITENKO received an invitation to participate in the MDPI World Water Day 2026 Webinar: “Water for All People – Governance, Security, and Access”. The event featured speakers from both the scientific community and the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme. 

The speakers of the event represented both the scientific community and a representative of UNESCO's World Water Resources Assessment Program.

During the session, Larysa VOITENKO addressed a question to Dr. Laura Imburgia, representing UNESCO, regarding the urgency of access to clean water in Ukraine:

"The war has turned clean water in Ukraine into a luxury we can no longer afford. With 20-hour blackouts and no way to buy bottled water, our children are at risk. What survival strategies or simple technological solutions for water purification, for example from nitrates, can you recommend to ensure their safety when infrastructure is completely destroyed?" 

In response, the speaker recommended consulting the UNESCO publication: “The United Nations World Water Development Report 2026. Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities” (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000397159), which contains relevant recommendations.

Larysa VOITENKO received a Certificate of Attendance, confirming her participation in this international event, which contributed to the dissemination of the EU_NITRA_UKR project’s objectives.