World Aquatics reaffirmed its commitment to promoting water safety globally during a side event to the World Health Assembly in Geneva, on Accelerating Action on Global Drowning Prevention.
The event brought together stakeholders from around the world to discuss and exchange knowledge on effective drowning prevention initiatives, including World Aquatics’ Discover Water programme, which takes a collaborative approach by working with Member Federations to deliver interventions.
There was an introduction from the World Health Organization which emphasised the importance of drowning prevention, highlighting some of the key findings of the first-ever Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention, released in December 2024.
The report found there were more than 300,000 fatalities from drowning in 2021, predominantly impacting children and young people, and low and middle-income countries.
Representatives from Bangladesh and Ireland, whose governments championed UN General Assembly and World Health Assembly resolutions on drowning prevention, also attended and shared their insights.
World Aquatics Director of Development and Athlete Services Morgane Gaultier attended the event and expressed the organisation’s commitment to playing its part in promoting water safety around the world.
“This was a valuable opportunity to connect with stakeholders from around the world who share World Aquatics’ belief that all young children should be equipped with the physical literacy skills to reduce the risk of drowning and enable them safely enjoy aquatics sports,” Gaultier said.
“Despite progress that has been made, it is clear from the Global Status Report there is still much work to be done on drowning prevention.
"World Aquatics is uniquely positioned to promote water safety by working closely with our Member Federations, and we are determined to build on the early successes of the Discover Water programme to reach more young people around the world"
The Discover Water programme was launched ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris on 25 July 2024, coinciding with World Drowning Prevention Day. It offers a range of educational tools to enable young children from around the world to safely embrace aquatics sports and learn vital skills in an engaging manner.
World Aquatics recently held a highly successful training course for Discover Water Country Leads across Africa in Malawi, with three-time open water swimming world champion Leonie Beck joining representatives from 15 countries.
World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July was established by the United Nations in 2021, and this year’s event falls during the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where a series of activities will be organised by World Aquatics to mark the occasion.