Water, Gender and Development

Inequitable access to safe water and sanitation can have detrimental effects on the safety and lives of women. Women’s reliance on water and sanitation is unfortunately, closely tied to gender-based violence (GBV). Gender based violence is a silent epidemic- victims of this are hesitant to reveal their experiences due to stigmas, lack of support or even lack of awareness, and acceptance of violence as part of everyday life. The problem is most prominent in areas of Sub-Saharan Africa where socioeconomic status, gender norms, education, climate and infrastructures all pose barriers to the safety and development of women. Gender violence and its link to sanitation  Gender-based violence can take place in both public or private spheres, but is almost always exacerbated by poor access to resources and poverty. It can take the shape of sexual violence, rape, harassment, sexploitation or even discrimination and psychological violence.  Forms of violence are often exacerbated a...

  A Ugandan study found that nearly two-third of schoolgirls in rural areas miss school at least once a month owing to menstruation. This statistic is simply shocking. Writing this blog as a woman, I  know first-hand the difficulty of menstruation, especially for young girls. The privilege of accessing menstruation products, support and the simple opportunity to talk about it with other people is something that I may have taken for granted.  For many girls, in particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa period poverty is an overwhelming issue for girls and women. Menstruation is natural process that all girls go through, yet it continues to burden the life of girls and women, impeding their development. This blog will explore the idea of period poverty- why it occurs and how this affects woman's lives. Girls holding sanitary pads Stigmatisation of periods  Menstruation is masked in ignorance and shame in many parts of the world, and in parts of ...