Referring to the agreed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 6 "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all", SDG 1 "End poverty in all its forms everywhere", SDG 2 "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture", SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages",
Considering ICW Resolution at Perth, 2003, "Water Security and its Management in the Eradication of Poverty" and ICW Resolutions at Kiev 2006, "Food and Drinkable Water for Older People Suffering Poverty, Isolation and Situation of Armed Conflicts" and "Effect of Natural Disasters on Women and Children" as well as ICW Reports to National Councils referring to "Water for Life", and "The Air We Breathe and the Water We Need",
Bearing in Mind the Report of the UN on the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, "Women's Empowerment and the Link to Sustainable Development," wherein the Commission "urges governments to provide universal and equitable access for all to safe and affordable drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene, in particular in schools, public facilities and buildings, paying special attention to the specific needs of all women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by inadequate water and sanitation facilities",
Taking into Account increasing threats to safe clean water availability from droughts, desertification, contamination of water due to floods and violent storms, toxins including algal contamination of lakes, streams and dams; salinity in coastal aquifers due to sea-level rise, storm and high-tide surges,
Recognizing the need to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (SDG13),
THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN URGES ALL NATIONAL COUNCILS TO:
• Raise awareness in communities about the issues related to safe clean water;
• Be involved as women in political decision-making at local, regional and national levels about access and availability to safe clean water;
• Be involved in community planning as women experts about access and protection of safe clean water resources;
• Be involved at all levels of decision-making in emergency, recovery and reconstruction processes to ensure that specific needs of women and girls to the availability of safe clean water are included in national and international plans, strategies and responses;
• Ensure businesses are made responsible for the elimination of pollutants, in particular, with water contamination and supply.
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Source: International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) — 35th General Assembly, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, September 13-18, 2018. Resolution No. 6.
