Women and girls are still underrepresented in water resource management and decision-making processes.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled Al-Anani noted: "Supporting women's participation in water resource management is a critical condition for achieving progress and sustainable development. We must make greater efforts to ensure that women and girls have access to water resources, as this is not only a fundamental right but also contributes to the well-being of society as a whole."
Álvaro Lario, Chair of "UN - Water," added: "It is time to recognize the important role of women and girls in addressing water resource issues. Water resource management must be equitable, serving the interests of the entire society."
The report also highlights that 2.1 billion people lack safe drinking water, with the problem most acutely affecting women and girls, who often bear the responsibility of collecting water. This leads to missed school days and hinders educational attainment. During trips to water sources located far from home, women and girls may face violence.
If we add up all the hours spent by women and girls collecting water worldwide, it amounts to 250 million hours daily — time that could be used for education, rest, or work.
The sanitation issue also disproportionately affects women and girls, especially in urban slums and rural areas. The lack of toilets and water for menstrual hygiene leads to missed school days. From 2016 to 2022, in 41 countries, 10 million adolescent girls (ages 15-19) missed school, work, and social activities.
Despite their key role in providing water for their families and in agriculture, women remain underrepresented in water resource management and decision-making in this area.
Studies of 64 utilities in 28 low- and middle-income countries show that less than 20% of the water sector workforce is made up of women, and they earn lower wages compared to men. In 2021-2022, in 79 countries, women held less than half of the positions in public institutions related to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, and in nearly a quarter of the 109 countries, their share was less than 10%.
The report also indicates that women's access to water resources is affected by gender inequality in land ownership and property rights. Water rights are often linked to land rights, impacting water availability for agriculture. Discriminatory land ownership laws put women at a disadvantage; in some countries, men own twice as much land as women.
Climate change, water scarcity, and natural disasters exacerbate gender inequality. Gender remains a key factor determining access to early warning systems and support during recovery periods.
Research shows that climate change disproportionately affects women: a 1°C increase in temperature leads to a 34% greater decline in income for female-headed households compared to male-headed households, while their workload increases by an average of 55 minutes per week compared to men.
The report presents specific recommendations for achieving progress, including:
- removing legal, institutional, and financial barriers to women's equal rights to water and land;
- increasing gender-responsive financing and budgeting;
- considering unpaid water-related labor in planning and investment decision-making;
- strengthening women's leadership and technical skills.
