Why women and girls lose the most in the absence of WASH

When it comes to poor access to water and decent sanitation, the repercussions are often disproportionately felt by women. For example, a lack of adequate facilities in schools might mean girls having to stay at home during their menstruation, impacting their ability to learn; collecting water instead of working can limit their opportunities to earn a living, and using a toilet without a lock can leave them open to gender-based violence.

To kick off the WASH Works series, Rebecca speaks to Barbara Schreiner, executive director of the Water Integrity Network, and Jamila Mayanja, the CEO of Smart Girls Foundation Uganda, about the intersection of water, sanitation, and hygiene, or WASH, and gender equality and what actions can be taken to push forward progress on both Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 6.