2013 is the International Year of Water Cooperation. UN
Water have asked UNESCO to lead on this campaign in view of the organisation’s
mandate to pursue goals of peace and sustainable development, natural sciences,
culture, education, communication and its longstanding programmes contributing
to the management of the world’s freshwater resources. The objective of the
International Year of Water Cooperation is to raise awareness, for increased cooperation, and on the challenges facing water
management.

What UNESCO hopes to do is provide an opportunity to capitalize on the
momentum created at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
(Rio+20), and to support the formulation of new objectives that will contribute
towards developing water resources that are truly sustainable.

  

Soroptimist International is committed to the principle that
every individual has the right to clean, safe drinking water and adequate
sanitation. Millions of women and girls every year suffer from a lack of access
to clean water, water-related diseases, and the social and economic
disadvantages that stem from these shortages. Women and girls are the primary
users of water because they perform the majority of the domestic work, carry
out subsistence agriculture and promote good health and sanitation.

Our UN representatives in Paris, Marie-Christine Gries and
Rina Dupriet, recently attended a series of meetings held at UNESCO on water
security, including an NGO Liaison Committee Strategy meeting, entitled ‘Women
and Water’ which involved several NGO’s coming together to see what they need
to push for and expect from UNESCO over the coming years.

The meetings outlined that freshwater is a vital resource
for human health, prosperity and security. Lack of access to decent water not only
affects the health of women and children, but also their education and empowerment. Climate change is simply worsening the situation.

It was agreed that water cooperation builds peace. Access to
water can of course be a source of conflict, but it can also be a great catalyst
for cooperation and peace building. This cooperation can then help to overcome certain
cultural, political and social tensions.

The need for gender sensitive governance of water is vital
for social and economic development which in turn leads to sustainable
development and poverty eradication. Clean water for all means better living
conditions and improved educational chances.  If women and girls can access water easily
then the time gained from shorter trips means they can put this time into other
activities, to enhance their own lives.

Our UN representatives will continue to work with UNESCO to
ensure that gender is prioritised and that any plans going forward are fully inclusive
of the needs of women and children. The needs of women and
children must be better understood and incorporated into all future planning.

For more information on the International Year of Water Cooperation
– www.watercooperation2013.org

 Pictures from SI
Cotonou Doyen (Benin). They have
launched a project to ensure women and girls have access to and are educated on
food safety and clean water. Women are educated on water hygiene and sanitation.
In doing so, the health standard is improved as women can ensure that families
are drinking safer, cleaner water.