International Human Rights Day In the 1990s the Commission became more and more preoccupied by the necessity to facilitate advice facilities and technical assistance to States in order to overcome obstacles which were impeding the enjoyment of human rights on a global scale. At the same time more emphasis was placed on the promotion of those economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development and the right to an adequate standard of living. More attention was also leant to the protection of the human rights of vulnerable groups within societies, including minorities and indigenous populations, and to the protection of the rights of the child and of women, including the elimination of violence against women and the attainment of equal rights for women.

World Wetlands Day Extensions of marshes and bogs, or superficies covered with water, whether of natural or artificial pattern, permanent or temporary, stagnant or running, fresh or salty water, including the extensions of marine waters of which depth exceeds six meters, when the tide is out. This is how the Convention on Wetlands defines these ecosystems, in which the water plays a fundamental role.On the 2nd of February, the Agreement on Wetlands was signed, on the seashores of the Caspian See, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

World Forest Day The 21st of Marsh is the first day of autumn in the South hemisphere, and the first of spring in the North hemisphere. Therefore, to mark it as a simultaneous event all over the world, the states members of the United Nations (UN) for the Agriculture and Alimentation (FAO) chose, in 1971, this date to celebrate the World Forestry Day.The forests supply us with goods and fundamental services, and contribute to ensuring alimentation, water and clean air. Moreover, they protect the ground and they are fundamental to achieving sustainable development.

World Water Day This day, declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations, has been celebrated since 1993. The purpose of the World Water Day is to promote a global comprehension of the necessity of a more responsible use of this resource. On the occasion of the proclamation of this day, the different States are invited, within national context, to celebrate it and are proposed different activities, such as lectures, round-table conference, seminars or talks destined to make the people aware of the importance of conservation and development of water resources. Fresh water is essential to life. Humane sanity and social development depend on the availability of these resources, in quantity as much as in quality. Since 1.2 millions of people in the world do not have access to drinking water and since contaminated water and its shortage provoke 10 percents of illnesses in the developing countries, it is obvious that a lot remains to be done.

World Meteorological Day On this day, there is a celebration to commemorate the 1950 signing of the agreement for the creation of the World Meteorology Organization (WMO), as body of the United Nations to ensure the international cooperation in matter of meteorology. According to the WMO, statistics prove that there are more and more people affected by disasters related to meteorological and climatic phenomena. “This tendency is alarming since it prevents populations of the world from having a sustainable way of life”, pointed out the WMO secretary, Godwin Obasi, on the 23rd of Marsh of 2002.