The new UN World Water Development report, to be published on March 19, warns that persistent gender inequalities in access to water and leadership are exacerbating the global water crisis: 2.1 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water billions still lack basic water and sanitation The latest data shows that women and girls are still largely responsible for collecting water in most unserved rural households, with impacts ranging from lost education, to health risks and heightened vulnerability to violence. They also remain underrepresented in water governance despite their central role in water provision and resilience.

The report, Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, highlights that women bear the brunt of poor sanitation, which impacts their menstrual health. It calls for removing legal and financial barriers, investing in gender responsive data and financing, valuing unpaid labour, and strengthening women’s leadership across the water sector.

UNESCO’s experts will present the key findings and data from the report, which will be under embargo until March 19. The report will be published to coincide with World Water Day commemorations. An event will take place the same day at the UN headquarters in New York, which is open to the press. 

After the press briefing, journalists will be able to access UNESCO’s press corner where the embargoed report, the executive summary, a factsheet, and the embargoed press release will be available, will go live.