Access to safe water, sanitation is a critical factor in promoting gender equality, as women and girls are disproportionately affected by water scarcity and poor wash services.

“Where water flows, equality grows.” —World Water Day 2026

“Gender equality is not a women’s issue, it is a human issue. It affects us all.”—Emma Watson

Women and girs often bear the primary responsibility for fetching water, which can be physically demanding, time consuming, and dangerous, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and limiting their opportunities for education and income generation. Inadequate sanitation facilities increase risks of assault and compromise personal safety, while the lack of gender-segregated, functional spaces affects menstrual hygiene management and pregnancy care, further reinforcing gender inequalities. Global ...