This year’s World Water Day focuses on the links betweenwater and jobs. Almost half of all workers – 1.5 billion people –work in water-related sectors, and nearly all jobs depend on theavailability of freshwater.

　　Despite its paramount importance, water as a sector generallydoes not receive the attention it deserves. Water is central tohuman survival, the environment and the economy.

　　All workers can be harmed by poor water and sanitation. Of 2 million work-related deaths everyyear, nearly one-in-five are caused by poor quality drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poorhygiene.

　　People with the least access to water and sanitation often also lack access to health care and stablejobs. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty. I am especially concerned by gaps between cities andthe countryside, men and women, and rich and poor. The basic provision of adequate water,sanitation and hygiene services at home, at school and in the workplace enables a robusteconomy by contributing to a healthy and productive population and workforce.

　　We can take bold action to address water inequity as part of our efforts to realize the 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development Goal 6, on ensuring availabilityand sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, addresses the need for access.

　　On this World Water Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to improve the quality, managementand protection of water resources as part of our historic campaign to achieve a life of dignity for allpeople.

　　今年世界水日的主题是水与就业的关系。世界上有近一半劳动者，大约15亿人，在与水有关的部门工作，而且几乎所有工作都离不开淡水的供应。

　　然而，尽管至为重要，水作为一个部门却通常得不到应有的关注。水是人类生存、环境改善和经济发展的根本。

　　所有劳动者都可能受害于低劣的水和环境卫生条件。在每年因劳动而死亡的200万人当中，将近五分之一为劣质饮用水、不当环境卫生和恶劣个人卫生所导致。

　　最难获取水和环境卫生的人，常常也无法获得医疗保健和稳定就业。这种情况延续整个贫穷周期。我对城乡之间、男女之间和贫富之间的差距尤感关切。只有在住家、学校和工作场所提供适足的水、环境卫生和个人卫生基本服务，协助建立一支健康且具有生产力的人口和劳动力队伍，才能带来经济的蓬勃发展。

　　我们可以大胆行动，消除供水不公平现象，作为我们努力实现2030年可持续发展议程的一项内容。关于为所有人提供水和环境卫生并进行可持续管理的可持续发展目标6，已阐述相关需求。

　　值此世界水日之际，让我们加入实现人人有尊严生活的历史性运动，重申对提高水资源质量、改善水资源管理和加强水资源保护的承诺。

（编辑：何莹莹）