Organization: Alianza Por El Agua

Girls tend to be most affected by the scarcity of water and sanitation services in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Females are the first to have to abandon school if there is not enough money, if there are household tasks that demand their attention, if members of the family need care, or if school is too far away. In Guatemala, 15% of young women between the ages of 15 and 24 are illiterate.

The Panamerican Health Organization estimates that around 14 million Central Americans do not have access to drinkable water – 35% of the total population. Of this percentage, more than 60% are women and girls.

Women are essential in the management of water. In the majority of developing countries, water is among the traditional responsibilities of women since they are the ones in charge of satisfying the basic needs of the family. Therefore, women are the ones who feel the greatest impact of shortages of drinking water and basic sanitation services.

Even today there is a lack of information in Central America regarding the real role that women play in water management, and the potential that a greater role for women has in decision making for the resource.

Keywords: access to water, empowering communities, gender and water, sanitation

Location: Central America

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