Today is World Water Day. The day focuses attention on the importance of freshwater and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The theme of this year is water and jobs. The theme focuses on how enough quantity and quality of water can change workers' lives and livelihoods and even transform societies and economies. Almost half of the world's workers, nearly 1.5 billion people work in water related sectors and nearly all jobs depend on water and those that ensure its safe delivery.<br/><br/>Yet the millions of people who work in water are often not recognized or protected by basic labour rights.<br/>World Water Day dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development where an international observance for water was recommended. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.