Water is women’s businessWater is women’s business

Lesha Witmer,Lesha Witmer,

UN delegate BPWIUN delegate BPWI

History BPW and History BPW and “water”“water”

Resolution world congress Melbourne 2002, Lucerne 2006 and MexicoPresidential appointment: Chair taskforcetaskforce: (at least) one member in every region and Link with members standing committee on environment and regional coordinators“women for water ambassadors”Define issues and projects: different subjects(founding) member of Women for water Partnership (2003)Member of World Water Council (2006)Founding Member of the Butterfly Effect NGO Coalition (2011)

Why a women’s issueWhy a women’s issue

Majority of the users (domestic, Majority of the users (domestic, agriculture, food, business, health care)agriculture, food, business, health care)

Main consumers > influence quality, Main consumers > influence quality, regulations (tap; bottle)regulations (tap; bottle)

Main suppliers in many parts of the worldMain suppliers in many parts of the world

(Easy) access to safe water; prerequisite (Easy) access to safe water; prerequisite for health, education and economic for health, education and economic activity/ independencyactivity/ independency

Sanitation is about health, dignity and Sanitation is about health, dignity and safetysafety

motivate and educate; take actionmotivate and educate; take action

Why is it a BPW issueWhy is it a BPW issue??More and more women have professional More and more women have professional education in the fieldeducation in the fieldAre experts / professionals – but rarely in Are experts / professionals – but rarely in decision-making positionsdecision-making positionsHold positions were they can influence Hold positions were they can influence water usewater useWork as health care workers, facility Work as health care workers, facility management, educators, etc.management, educators, etc.manage and own (small) businessesmanage and own (small) businesses

• (founding) member of Women for water Partnership > official partner UN Water

•Member of world water council > influence the world water forum

•Member of the Butterfly Effect > cooperation

•Working with major group women and caucus for the HLPF SD

Working together:Working together:

6

ContextContext More water insecurity and food supply issues More and more water-related disasters:

floods, draught, pollution demand is projected to outstrip supply by 40

percent by 2030, an estimated half of the world’s population is

likely to live in areas of high water stress by the same year

80% of the waste water is discharged without treatment

Climate change makes it worse, but not the “only” cause.. population growth, other diets (more meat)

context Water Footprint:

http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/NationalWaterAccountingFramework

biggest net virtual water importers are North Africa and the Middle East, Mexico, Europe, Japan and South Korea (10.3 trillion gallons)10.3 trillion gallons).

use of water has increasing policy relevance

European Commission: flagship initiative on resource efficiency under the Europe 2020 strategy: “Blueprint for Safeguarding Europe’s Water” (2012)

8

Attention needed for:Attention needed for: Behavioral changesBehavioral changes Waste water management: 5 R’s: redesign, Waste water management: 5 R’s: redesign,

reduce, reuse, re-cycle, re-allocatereduce, reuse, re-cycle, re-allocate Water storage & MUS (multiple usage)Water storage & MUS (multiple usage) Capacity development: awareness about use Capacity development: awareness about use

and pollutionand pollution (lack of) access to safe sanitation Water & energyWater & energy river basin management: IWRM and river basin management: IWRM and

transboundarytransboundary Restoration of infra structureRestoration of infra structure Water stewardshipWater stewardship

9

In generalIn general

Water needs a common voice. Water needs sustainable solutions. Water needs joint action Water needs local and global

solutions

Do you knowDo you know• How much water you use per day? How much water you use per day?

• How high is your water bill? How high is your water bill?

• How much do you pay for waste How much do you pay for waste water treatment? water treatment?

• Whether there is a (water) disaster Whether there is a (water) disaster Plan?Plan?

Do you know• Private users: annually 800 million m³

water = 24% of total use, they pay 84% of the cost.

• Industry uses 300 million m³ (8%) and pay 15% of the cost

• Farmers use 2,4 billion m³ (68%) but only pay only 4% of the cost.

• Who is responsible for water in your Who is responsible for water in your town?town?

12

What can women What can women / you do?/ you do?

• Reduce use of water: shower, cooking, Reduce use of water: shower, cooking, cleaning , garden watering cleaning , garden watering

• Multiple use of water: household cycle; e.g. Multiple use of water: household cycle; e.g. Irrigation, household use or e.g dry Irrigation, household use or e.g dry sanitation and composting sanitation and composting

• Collect rain – and waste water; re-cycle, re-Collect rain – and waste water; re-cycle, re-useuse

13

What can women / What can women / you do?you do?

• Use “old fashioned” airconditioningUse “old fashioned” airconditioning• Water stewardship / water management Water stewardship / water management

plans in businessesplans in businesses• Raise awareness on water use and water as Raise awareness on water use and water as

limited resourcelimited resource• Lobby for legislation changesLobby for legislation changes• Lobby for hygiene and water “management” Lobby for hygiene and water “management”

inin educationeducation• Make sure there will be a SDG on waterMake sure there will be a SDG on water• ????????

I wish..I wish..

15

What can / should What can / should women support >> women support >> SDG?SDG?

• universal access to safe water supply universal access to safe water supply and gender-responsive sanitation and and gender-responsive sanitation and hygienehygiene

• access to proper hygiene (education)access to proper hygiene (education)• front- line service delivery by women front- line service delivery by women • involvement of women in water involvement of women in water

management at all levelsmanagement at all levels• (support resolution nr. E-8)(support resolution nr. E-8)