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Overview of the relationship between gender, poverty and water. The first section explores how, in every corner of the globe, women play a central role in managing water supply and distribution. It also examines how access to water and sanitation has implications for women’s health and economic activities. Case studies highlight water projects and initiatives that have succeeded in elevating women’s status.Section two presents strategies for translating government commitments on gender, poverty eradication and water and sanitation into action by advocating for a gender perspective in all water and sanitation related policies. As a fundamental component of sustainable development, water is a strong entry point for global advocacy on connected issues such as human rights, economic justice, poverty, reproductive rights, land, health, HIV/AIDS, and energy. Also in this section, women experts put forth their own guidelines for integrating gender in water use and management for poverty eradication. Section three, in the form of an insert, is a compilation of existing government commitments on gender, poverty and water—including the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002 Johannesburg, South Africa); the UN Millennium Summit (2000, New York, U.S.); the Fourth World Conference on Women (1995, Beijing, China); the International Conference on Population and Development, (1994, Cairo, Egypt); and global water conferences. Advocates can use this matrix as a tool for monitoring government action At the end of the paper is a list of websites, contacts and other resources that can be used to get involved. [author]
