Stockholm World Water Week 2015

Women and men’s unequal access to and control over resources, development benefits and decision-making related to water is widely recognised. Despite their important role in water management, women are often underrepresented in decision making related to water management and services – partly as a result of social and cultural norms.

Less known, is that women also are unequally affected by corruption – a vice which continues to plague the water sector. Corruption impacts women more severely than men due to their dependence on basic services, such as water, and their disadvantaged position in society. Women tend to have a wider definition than men of what corruption entails, for example by including sexual exploitation, physical abuse and non-delivery of public services.

At the same time, women’s civil society has an impressive track record of curbing and preventing corruption when actively engaged in water related interventions in their communities.

This event will explore the gendered dimensions of corruption in the water sector by showcasing the latest research and examples of women’s strategies to combat corruption in different parts of the world. Recommendations on how to integrate a gender perspective in water integrity will be developed with the participants during the event.