Water security key to empowering women
WATER security is a universally important goal, but one with particular gendered significance.
The year, 2020, marks 22 years since South Africa embarked on the UN led 16 Days of Activism campaign for No Violence against Women and Children.
Gender-based violence (GBV) has long overcome our nation. However, since the outbreak of Covid-19, reports have shown that violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has increased.
Mothers, sisters and children continue to live in fear. Therefore, it is time for everyone to take action in ending all forms of violence.
The theme for this year’s campaign is Women’s Economic Justice for a Non-Violent and Non-Sexist South Africa. Through this theme, the focus is on the importance of women’s economic empowerment, the role of women in the workplace, access to opportunities, unfair treatment, and equal opportunities in male-dominated sectors.
As it stands, the water sector is male-dominated. Water security is a universally important goal, but one with particular gendered significance. Since women and girls carry the bulk of the water collection burden in most rural areas, they are subject to substantial physical and psychological strain and lose billions of hours that could otherwise be spent on other productive and valued activities, including schooling or employment.
Gaps in water facilities also hinder women and girls’ ability to meet their reproductive and menstrual hygiene needs and increase their exposure to GBV risks when walking to, waiting for or using public facilities.
Furthermore, water-related issues such as droughts and floods tend to mostly affect women and girls. If not addressed, the negative impacts of global water insecurity on women and girls will only increase, as climate change and concentrated population growth exacerbate existing water security threats.
Water insecurity is, therefore, a growing driver of poverty, vulnerability and risk in many low and middle-income areas in the country.
This makes it an important concern for those aiming to tackle the longterm drivers of poverty, vulnerability, risk and gender inequality – including those working in the social protection and gender sectors. Yet, to date, there has been a limited focus within these fields on the importance of water security for the reduction of gendered poverty and vulnerability, or on the role that social protection could play in addressing gendered water security risks.
Because of water’s important role in economic development and poverty reduction, addressing the constraints that women and girls face in accessing and managing water is essential.
Through the water and sanitation policy and the Black Broad-Based Economic Empowerment and working with key stakeholders we can find innovative solutions, which will assist in fighting inequality and poverty.
Transformation requires a government that embraces new solutions to realise the goals set out in the National Development Plan (NDP).
Government has achieved delivery of access to essential water and sanitation to more than 80% of citizens and is committed to ensuring universal access by 2030 in line with the NDP vision, also a commitment to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.