Running for water: UNESCO participates in the World Water Run

The World Water Run is organized in collaboration with the water advocate Mina Guli and her Run Blue Campaign, from 16 March to 23 March 2023. It aims to connect people and inspire organizations and companies to support water action in the lead-up to the United Nations 2023 Water Conference on 22-24 March. This is the first United Nations’ conference on water in 46 years. It is being organized in New York to get the world back on track for reaching the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), to ensure access to water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Runners and walkers are invited to participate from anywhere in the world, for free, as a way of raising global awareness and consciousness to the ever-increasing freshwater shortages the world is facing. Participants can choose their own distance for World Water Run, within a minimum of 1km and a maximum of 350km. Participants can run the entire distance in one day or spread it out for the duration of the event. UNESCO has decided to answer the call, and staff-members of the organization all around the world will participate on World Water Day (22 March), by running or walking distances of 5 to 10km. 

The World Water Run is championed by the water advocate and ultramarathon runner, Mina Guli. During her year-long campaign, the Run Blue Campaign, she has pledged to run 200 marathons in one year to draw attention to the global water crisis. Mina will run her last Run Blue marathon during the World Water Run, finishing on the steps of the United Nations headquarters in New York City.