Maailman vesipäivän webinaari

Background and Rationale

World Water Day, observed annually on 22 March under UN auspices, raises global awareness of freshwater challenges and mobilizes action toward SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for All). The official 2026 theme, "Water and Gender", with the powerful slogan "Where water flows, equality grows", is led by UNICEF and UN Women. It underscores safe water and sanitation as fundamental human rights and essential enablers of gender equality (SDG 5).

Women and girls disproportionately shoulder the burdens of water insecurity spending millions of hours daily collecting water, facing heightened health and safety risks, and losing opportunities for education and employment. At the same time, they remain underrepresented in water governance and decision-making. The UN-Water campaign calls for transformative, rights-based approaches that center women's voices as users, workers, leaders, and changemakers, fostering inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient water services that benefit entire societies.

This webinar, hosted by the BPW International Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development Goals, aligns directly with this theme. It amplifies women's leadership in sustainability and contributes to BPW's mission of empowering women to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals through practical action and advocacy.

Objectives

Highlight the intersections of water insecurity, gender inequality, and sustainable development.

Showcase innovative ecotechnologies, legal perspectives, financial strategies, and best practices for water conservation, reuse, and equitable management.

Inspire participants - particularly women leaders, professionals, and advocates - to drive gender-transformative change in water-related policies, investments, and community initiatives.

Speakers and Topics

Marie-Claude Machon-Honoré

BPW International Main Representative to UNESCO (France)

Bringing insights from international advocacy and UNESCO's work on education, science, culture, and sustainable development in relation to water and gender.

Elena Pagliai

Communication Manager, Ecofuturo (Italy)

"Ecotechnologies for water recovery, production, conservation, and reuse."

Exploring practical innovations for sustainable water solutions.

Nabeela Siddiqui

Assistant Professor, Vinayaka Mission’s Law School (India)

Author of "Rivers Unbound - Exploring Social Currents, Legal Tides, and Stories of Flow" (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group)

Examining legal, social, and narrative dimensions of water rights and equity.

Silva Marzetti

Assistant Professor, University of Bologna (Italy)

"Best practices for water saving and reuse."

Sharing evidence-based approaches to efficient water management.

Additional Highlight

The webinar also draws inspiration from initiatives like Unilever Turkey's "Çiften Temizken Güzel" project, which supports urban cleanliness, Bosphorus waste collection, recycling, and community well-being—demonstrating practical links between hygiene, water stewardship, and societal benefits.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will gain actionable knowledge on integrating gender perspectives into water solutions, from technology and policy to finance and community action. The session aims to empower attendees to become advocates and leaders in building a more equitable, water-secure future.

Join us on 08 April 2026 at 15:00 UTC to celebrate World Water Day momentum and contribute to meaningful change.

Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.