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 2015, 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(shù)以百萬(wàn)計(jì)的世界各地的人們面臨水資源短缺。每年數(shù)百萬(wàn)兒童死于水源性疾病。定期和干旱折磨一些世界上最貧困的國(guó)家。世界需要更好的回應(yīng)。我們需要增加水的效率,特別是在農(nóng)業(yè)。我們需要免費(fèi)的日常家務(wù)的婦女和女童拖水,經(jīng)常在很遠(yuǎn)的地方。我們必須讓他們參與水管理決策。我們需要優(yōu)先考慮衛(wèi)生。這就是進(jìn)步是最落后的。我們必須表明,水資源不需要沖突的來源。相反,他們可以合作的催化劑。顯著的收益。但一個(gè)主要的努力仍然是必需的。這就是為什么今年是“生命之水”十年的開始。我們的目標(biāo)是滿足對(duì)水和衛(wèi)生設(shè)施的國(guó)際商定的目標(biāo),到2015年,并在多年的建設(shè)進(jìn)一步發(fā)展的基礎(chǔ)。

　　這是一個(gè)緊急的人類發(fā)展的問題,和人類的尊嚴(yán)。在一起,我們可以提供安全、干凈的水,世界上所有的人。世界上的水資源是我們的生存的生命線,并在21世紀(jì)可持續(xù)發(fā)展。在一起,我們必須更好地管理它們。