EuroWire: Persistent gender inequalities continue to undermine global water security, disproportionately affecting women and girls despite decades of progress, according to a report released by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water. The findings highlight that while women and girls bear the primary responsibility for water collection in many regions, they remain underrepresented in water management and decision-making roles.
The United Nations World Water Development Report states that women are responsible for collecting water in more than 70 percent of rural households without direct access to safe water services. This unequal burden exposes them to physical strain and limits access to education, employment, and other opportunities, reinforcing existing disparities in many communities.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said that ensuring women’s participation in water governance is essential for sustainable development and equitable access. He emphasized that safeguarding access to water for women and girls is a fundamental right and a key driver of broader social and economic progress.
Gender inequality limits effective water governance
Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development and Chair of UN-Water, said it is necessary to fully recognize the role of women and girls in water solutions as users, leaders, and professionals. He stressed that inclusive participation is critical to managing water resources effectively as a shared public good.
Released ahead of World Water Day on March 22, the report, titled “Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities,” notes that around 2.1 billion people worldwide still lack safely managed drinking water. Women and girls are most affected, as they are typically responsible for securing water for household use, exposing them to health risks, lost educational opportunities, and increased vulnerability to gender-based violence, particularly where services are unsafe or unreliable.
Recognition of unpaid labor critical for policy change
The report also highlights the impact of climate change, water scarcity, and hydro-meteorological disasters in intensifying gender inequalities. It notes that gender influences exposure to risk and access to early-warning systems, recovery support, and long-term livelihood security. Data cited shows that a 1°C increase in temperature results in a 34 percent greater income reduction for female-headed households compared to male-headed households, while women’s weekly labor hours increase by an average of 55 minutes relative to men.
To address these challenges, the report outlines recommendations including removing legal, institutional, and financial barriers to women’s equal rights to water, land, and services; increasing gender-responsive financing with accountability mechanisms; improving the collection of sex-disaggregated data; recognizing unpaid water-related labor in planning and investment decisions; strengthening women’s leadership and technical capacity; and avoiding reliance on low-cost solutions that depend on unpaid labor.