Women and girls are vulnerable to the global water and sanitation crisis
The study provides the first in-depth analysis of gender inequalities in drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in households, revealing that women and girls are vulnerable to the global water and sanitation crisis.
Billions lack access
Globally, 2.2 billion people lack safe sanitation at home, and some 3.4 billion lack access to safe sanitation. Nearly two billion people cannot wash their hands with soap and water at home.
The report found that women are more likely to be responsible for drinking water for families, and that girls are almost twice as likely as boys.
Dangerous journeys
Women and girls generally travel long distances to fetch water, causing them to miss out on education, work, and leisure time. They also face the risks of physical harm and dangers on the road.
“Every step a girl takes to get water is a step away from education, play, and safety,” said Cecilia Sharp, UNICEF Director of WASH and CEED, which refers to the agency’s work in climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction. .
She added: “Unsafe water, toilets, and washing hands at home robs girls of their power, undermines their well-being, and perpetuates poverty.”
Nearly two billion people in the world live in homes without an on-site water supply, according to the report. In most of these families, seven out of 10, women and girls aged 15 and older are responsible for drinking water, compared to men and boys.
Compromising privacy and dignity
Women and girls may also feel unsafe using a toilet outside the home and disproportionately suffer the effects of lack of cleanliness.
More than half a billion people in the world still share sanitary facilities with other households, undermining women and girls’ privacy, dignity, and security.
Recent studies from 22 countries show that among households with shared toilets, women and girls are more likely than men and boys to feel safe walking alone in night and combat sexual assault and other security risks.
Furthermore, inadequate WASH services increase health risks for women and girls and limit their ability to safely and privately manage their periods.
Dr. Maria Neira, Director of WHO’s Environment, Climate Change and Health Department, noted that 1.4 million people die each year due to lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene.
“Women and girls not only face WASH-related infectious diseases, such as diarrhea and acute respiratory infections, they face additional health risks because they are vulnerable to harassment, violence, and injury when they have to go outside the house to fetch water or just use the toilet,” he said.
More actions are needed
The report also highlights global progress towards ensuring that people everywhere have access to WASH services.
Between 2015 and 2022, household access to safely managed drinking water increased from 69 per cent to 73 per cent. The same period also saw an increase in safely managed hygiene from 49 per cent to 57 per cent and clean cleaning services rose from 67 per cent to 75 per cent.
However, UN agencies warn that greater efforts are needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for universal access to safely managed WASH services by 2030.
Further action is still needed to ensure that progress contributes to gender equality.
