Published 28 April 2022
April 28 marks the first anniversary of the historic United Nations Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention (A/75/L.76) which was passed during the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The first resolution to highlight drowning prevention was welcomed by lifesaving and drowning prevention colleagues across Australia, in the Asia-Pacific neighbourhood, and all other regions of the world.
We are grateful to the United Nations Ambassadors of Bangladesh and Ireland, the 79 countries who co-sponsored the resolution, and the small advocacy team who supported the United Nations Group of Friends of Drowning Prevention. That team included representatives from World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the United Kingdom charity Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RLNI).
RNLI’s investment in raising political attention for drowning is substantial and has helped take drowning from an under-recognised public health issue to one that now sits on the global health and sustainable development agenda.
Celebration is not enough though; it is time to put the resolution to action.
The resolution calls on nations to:
- Appoint a national focal point for drowning prevention
- Develop a national drowning prevention plan
- Develop drowning prevention programming using WHO interventions
- Enact and enforce water safety laws
- Include drowning within national mortality reporting
- Promote drowning prevention public awareness campaigns
- Integrate drowning prevention within disaster-risk reduction programmes
- Support international cooperation by sharing lessons learned
- Promote research and development of innovative tools and technology
- Introduce water safety, swimming, and first-aid lessons to school curricula
In Australia, this reinforces the need for state and local water safety plans, and our campaigns including Keep Watch, Make the Right Call and Summer Safety.
We are committed to ensuring no child misses out on the joy of programs like Swim and Survive, whether at school, during holiday or private learn-to-swim classes.
Elsewhere in our region, drowning rates are up to 15 times higher than those in Australia. In low- and middle-income countries, children are often the most vulnerable.
H.E. Ambassador Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, described her country, Bangladesh, as being ‘on the frontline in the fight against drowning’.
Following the Resolution, and with the help of many groups, Bangladesh recently announced its first Government-funded drowning prevention policy. The policy aims to bring drowning prevention measures, including child supervision through day care and survival swimming programs, to thousands of children across the country.
National government drowning prevention agendas are well advanced in Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and Uganda.
As we prepare for World Drowning Prevention Day on 25th July 2022, we look forward again to working with the Australian lifesaving and drowning prevention community to highlight the profound impact drowning has on families and communities across the country, and around the world.
Royal Life Saving again congratulates the RNLI and their teams for their tremendous effort in achieving this milestone. Communities affected by drowning, and all those who have made drowning prevention their lifelong mission, will be forever grateful.
You can review the resolution in the six United Nations languages here
