Strengthening gender equality in access to water, sanitation and hygiene

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)  launch new briefing paper on 'Strengthening gender equality in access to water, sanitation and hygiene'. The gender briefing paper explores actions that can be taken to improve gender equality.

Water and sanitation form part of the basic services that all people require to enable them to exercise agency and live their lives with dignity, autonomy and health. Women and girls face systemic discrimination in most areas of their lives. A lack of water and
sanitation is an additional layer that further hampers their ability to participate fully in their communities, attend school and work, and more broadly develop and pursue their life plans.

Eliminating inequalities in access to water and sanitation that are based on gender is critical to achieving universal access to these services. Likewise, ensuring universal access to water and sanitation is a crucial element of the struggle for gender equality and social justice.

• Download the briefing paper 'Strengthening gender equality in access to water, sanitation and hygiene'.