Make water a force for gender equality, and let the benefits flow to every community: UN Chief

In 2026, World Water Day will be celebrated on March 22, under the theme "Water and Gender," with the slogan "Where water flows, equality grows." This annual event emphasizes the vital connection between access to water and gender equality, particularly highlighting the unequal challenges that women and girls encounter in managing water resources, ensuring safety, and participating in decision-making processes.

The UN-Water points out that the ongoing global water crisis necessitates equal representation of women in water leadership and decision-making roles to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6), which aims to provide accessible and safe water and sanitation for everyone by 2030

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterrest, in his message stated, "It's the time for governments to scale up investment and strengthen national water and sanitation systems, through improved delivery capacities, workforce training and reliable financing. Developed countries must share the technologies, expertise and financing required to build safe, sustainable and resilient water and sanitation infrastructure. And women must be at the decision-making table to ensure these systems meet their needs," adding that too often, water is a source of conflict because of inequity and exclusion issues.

"Together, let’s make water a force for gender equality, and let the benefits flow to every community in the world," he urged.