Background
The 1st International Day of Water Justice took place on 31 January 2025 in Canberra, Australia. This event marked the first global effort dedicated to co-operatively respond in community-led initiatives to the challenges of water injustice in relation to water access, use, and governance. This special event brought together representatives from Indigenous and other communities in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Kenya, and Mexico to foster intercultural dialogue, knowledge exchange, and visibility for local struggles and solutions, particularly those of Indigenous, rural, and marginalised communities.
The 1st International Day of Water Justice was initiated and led by the Water Justice Hub and the Just Water Alliance under the coordination of Prof. Quentin Grafton, who also holds the UNESCO Chair in Transboundary Water Economics and Governance. Following its successful delivery in 20205, the organisers have established the event as an annual, rotating gathering. Mexico has generously offered to host the 2nd. International Day for Water Justice 26-27 January 2026.
Water justice is a process that supports equitable, sustainable, and culturally appropriate access to healthy water, recognising both human rights and the collective rights of peoples. According to the UN World Water Development Report, 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and four out of five of them live in rural areas. Indigenous communities, in particular disadvantage, suffer from challenges related to water access, territorial protection, and meaningful participation in water governance.
This 2nd. International Day for Water Justice places water justice at the heart of global dialogues about water. It recognises and acknowledges the authority of the Voices of indigenous Elders, promotes active listening to community voices, and links grassroots experiences with knowledge holders, researchers, non-governmental organisations, public policy decision-makers, and others in support of water justice.
Hosting the event in Mexico offers a valuable opportunity to highlight the efforts, ongoing challenges and proposed solutions to water injustice faced by Indigenous peoples and local communities in Latin America. The event also strengthens global knowledge-sharing and community solidarity to deliver better outcomes for people and the planet.
Objectives
To strengthen cooperation among communities, researchers, decision-makers and other networks from different parts of the world and sectors so as to promote access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
To support dialogues that bring together the voices of communities that are challenged by water injustice.
To connect community-based traditional and scientific knowledge, experiences and insights in support transformative solutions for water and people.