大会 2003 年 12 月 23 日第 58/217 号决议决定，为了履行在国际论坛上以及按照千年发展目标和《可持续发展问题世界首脑会议执行计划》(《约翰内斯堡执行计划》)制定和商定的与水有关的目标和具体目标的承诺，并提高会员国和利益攸关方对水的重视，有必要宣布 2005-2015 年“生命之水”国际行动十年。“十年”于 2005 年 3 月 22 日与世界水日一起启动，其目的是促进各级更注重与水有关的问题以及执行与水有关的方案和项目，同时尽力确保妇女参与同水有关的发展努力，并进一步在各级开展合作。在同一决议中，大会吁请联合国系统及其合作伙伴协调活动和行动，以实现“十年”目标。
In its resolution 58/217 of 23 December 2003, the General Assembly decided that, in order to meet the commitments on water-related goals and targets, as formulated and agreed in international forums, as well as under the Millennium Development Goals and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation), and raise the profile of water for both Member States and stakeholders, it was necessary to declare an International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015. The Decade commenced on 22 March 2005 in conjunction with World Water Day, its aim being to promote a larger focus on water-related issues at all levels and on the implementation of water-related programmes and projects, while striving to ensure the participation and involvement of women in water-related development efforts, and the furtherance of cooperation at all levels. In the same resolution, the Assembly called upon the United Nations system and its partners to coordinate activities and actions to achieve the Decade’s goals.