UNICEF-WHO Report Exposes Gender Disparities in Access to Water and Sanitation 2023

UNICEF-WHO Report Exposes Gender Disparities in Access to Water and Sanitation 2023

The survey claims that 1.8 billion people live without Access to water sources in their homes globally.

According to a recent analysis from UNICEF and WHO, women are more likely than men to be in charge of collecting water for homes worldwide, and girls are more likely than boys to take on the task and spend more time doing it each day.

Between 2000 and 2022, household drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) progress will be made. A particular focus on gender, which offers the first in-depth research of gender disparities in WASH, also observes that women and girls are more likely to feel insecure using a toilet outside of the house and disproportionately experience the adverse effects of poor hygiene.

In a world where many of us take basic amenities for granted, a new report jointly published This information by UNICEF; The organization referred to as the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization. (WHO) shines a light on an alarming reality: women and girls are bearing the brunt of the global water and sanitation crisis.

The report, which synthesizes the findings from comprehensive surveys conducted across diverse countries, illuminates the significant disparities in Access to clean water, safe sanitation, and hygiene facilities. It paints a stark picture of the daily struggles women and girls encounter, particularly in lower-income regions, due to these deficiencies.

Clean water and proper sanitation are crucial for maintaining a healthy life and upholding fundamental human rights, which are necessary for preserving dignity and well-being.However, around 1.8 billion people worldwide still Avoid using a source of drinking water that has been contaminated with faecal matter. And nearly 2.3 billion people need basic sanitation facilities such as toilets or latrines. Women and girls, who are often tasked with water collection in households, are disproportionately impacted by this crisis.

“A girl is one step away from learning, play, and safety with every step she makes to collect water. Girls’ potential is lost due to unsafe water, toilets, and handwashing facilities at home, which impairs their well-being and feeds poverty cycles. To achieve gender equality and empowerment and universal Access to water and sanitation, Cecilia Sharp, UNICEF’s Director of WASH and CEED, emphasized the need to consider girls’ needs when developing and implementing WASH projects.

One of the report’s central findings is that women and girls in regions with limited Access to clean water often need to travel considerable distances to collect water for their households. This journey poses potential risks to their safety and takes time that could otherwise be used for education or income-generating activities. The report underscores that girls missing out on school to collect water is a common phenomenon in many parts of the world, further hampers their educational development and socio-economic potential.

The analysis estimates that 1.8 billion people worldwide reside in homes without Access to water. In 7 out of 10 of these families, women and girls over 15 are primarily in charge of collecting water, as opposed to 3 out of 10 households for their male counterparts. Additionally, girls under 15 (7%) are more likely than males under 15 (4%) to fetch water. Women and girls often travel farther to gather it, delaying their schooling, employment, and leisure activities and increasing their risk of bodily harm and dangers along the route.

The survey also reveals that more than half a billion individuals still share toilets with other homes, endangering women and girls’ safety, dignity, and privacy. For instance, recent studies from 22 countries reveal that women and girls are more likely than men and boys to feel insecure travelling alone at night and to experience sexual harassment and other safety issues in families with communal restrooms.

The sanitation crisis poses another set of challenges for women and girls, particularly around menstruation. A lack of private, clean facilities can prevent girls from attending school during their periods, with significant implications for their overall educational attainment and prospects. This also creates an environment where girls may feel stigmatized and isolated, profoundly affecting their psychological well-being.

Further, inadequate Access to sanitation facilities contributes to a higher risk of infection and disease, including urinary tract infections and other diseases related to poor hygiene. Pregnant women without Access to clean water and sanitation are at a higher risk of maternal and neonatal death. The situation can be even more dire for displaced women and girls, who often live in crowded conditions with minimal Access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

The UNICEF-WHO report brings these issues to the forefront, urging global stakeholders to address the water and sanitation crisis urgently. It calls for more significant investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, especially in rural and marginalized communities, and recommends that these efforts be gender-responsive, considering the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls.

Inadequate WASH services also restrict women’s and girls’ Access to safe and private period management and raise health risks. Women and teenage girls in the poorest households and those with disabilities are most likely to lack a private area to wash and change among the 51 nations for which data are available.

“The latest data from WHO shows a stark reality: 1.4 million lives are lost each year due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director, Environment, Climate Change, and Health Department. In addition to the infectious disorders associated with WASH, such as diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections, “women and girls face additional health risks because they are vulnerable to harassment, violence, and injury when they have to go outside the home to haul water or simply to use the toilet.”

The results also demonstrate that women and girls. Specific individuals are more impacted by inadequate Access to hygiene. Without the safety of handwashing, women and girls are often exposed to infections and other health concerns since they are frequently in charge of household duties and care for others, including cooking, cleaning, and attending to the sick. The time females spend on household tasks also affects their likelihood of finishing secondary school and finding work.

Approximately 2.2 billion people, or one in four people worldwide, still need safe drinking water at home, and 3.4 billion people, or two in five, need decent sanitation. 1 in 4 individuals, or around 2 billion people, cannot wash their hands at home with soap and water.

The paper highlights some developments towards ensuring WASH access for all people. Access to home-safe sanitation services grew from 49 to 57%, family access to safe drinking water climbed from 69 to 73%, and household access to essential hygiene services increased from 67 to 75% between 2015 and 2022.

It will take a six-fold increase in current rates of progress for safely managed drinking water, a five-fold increase for safely managed sanitation, and a three-fold increase for essential hygiene services Our objective is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of providing global access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services by 2030.

To ensure that WASH progress advances gender equality, more work is required. This work should include integrating gender considerations into WASH programmes and policies and collecting and analyzing data on a disaggregated basis to inform targeted interventions that cater to the needs of women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.

Moreover, it emphasizes the need for education and empowerment programs for women and girls, which could enable them to take a more active role in water and sanitation management. These programs should also focus on dismantling societal norms that perpetuate gender disparities in these areas.

The report is a sobering reminder of the stark reality faced by many women and girls across the globe. However, it also serves as a call to action. By recognizing and addressing the gendered impacts of the water and sanitation crisis, we can take a significant step toward achieving The aim of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal is to make sure that everyone has Access to clean water and proper sanitation while also ensuring that these resources are managed sustainably by 2030.