Gender Water & Development Conference, 3-7 November, 2014

The inaugural Gender Water & Development Conference with the theme “The Untapped Connection” took place In East London South Africa from 3-7 November 2014. The Water Research Commission of South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Water Affairs of South Africa, AMCOW, SADC and the Women for Water Partnership, were hosting the conference. More than 320 delegates from 30 countries attended.

AWHHE case was presented during the session “Women: Agents of Change Implementing the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation”. This session demonstrated how women’s civil society combines water and gender to effectively contribute to the development of their communities and countries. It showed the added value of the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation as a means to accelerate the social en economic empowerment of women and to tackle poverty at the root. It in particular addressed the challenges that women’s organizations face in their work, with the aim to contribute to a transformative, women inclusive development agenda.

Ms. Nomvula Mokonyane, the Minister of Water and Sanitation of South Africa and member organizations of Women for Water Partnership