The Manifesto for the Freshwater Rule of Law is a response to several persistent issues that are central to effective domestic freshwater governance. Its purpose is to call attention and inspire action by national policy- and lawmakers to focus on domestic legislation as a key pillar of achieving the Freshwater Rule of Law and to give it effect, in particular, through legislation governing the equitable and sustainable management of freshwater resources. Law, coupled with strong institutions, is essential for societies to respond to freshwater pressures and crucial for the international community to address the more pressing water challenges of our time. The Manifesto is focused on addressing these challenges through a suite of core “principles,” guiding countries to analyze and diagnose where the Freshwater Rule of Law can be improved to foster more equitable and sustainable water resources governance, in line with human rights and the SDGs.