World Water Day: Rita Maurício highlights gender inequality in water access and governance
In an interview with Agência Lusa, MARE/ARNET at NOVA FCT researcher Rita Maurício stressed that the global water crisis continues to affect women and girls disproportionately, with consequences for education, health, dignity and social participation.
On World Water Day, marked on 22 March, Rita Maurício, researcher at MARE and lecturer at NOVA FCT, drew attention to a dimension of the water crisis that is still too often overlooked: its strong connection to gender inequality.
Speaking to Agência Lusa, Rita Maurício noted that in many parts of the world, women and girls still bear the main responsibility for collecting and carrying water. This daily burden comes at a major social and human cost, taking time away from school, paid work and other opportunities for personal and community development.
She also highlighted the impact of inadequate sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, particularly for school-age girls. In many contexts, the lack of safe and dignified conditions leads to absenteeism, school dropout and the reinforcement of existing inequalities, affecting health, education and well-being.
Even in countries with stronger water and sanitation systems, Rita Maurício pointed out that gender imbalances remain in leadership and decision-making. Women are still underrepresented in top-level water governance, despite the sector’s central role in public health, social cohesion and sustainability.
In Portugal, the situation is very different thanks to sustained investment in water supply and sanitation over recent decades. Even so, the contrast between national progress and global disparities is a reminder that water must be treated as an issue of justice, human rights and shared responsibility.
At a time when climate change, pressure on water resources and glacier loss are increasing vulnerability worldwide, the message is clear: there can be no sustainable future without safe access to water and sanitation, and no real water justice without gender equality.
Text: João Pequeno