1. Gender and Water © Oxfam photo Geoff, Sayer, Tanzania

2. A Critical Global Issue For Canada and globally, water is a critical issue. Having access to enough safe, clean water is important to humans and all other living things on the planet. © Oxfam photo Abbie Trayler-Smith, Haiti

3. Access to Water Who has access to water? Where are the water sources? Who uses them? Who manages them? Why? © Oxfam photo Jerry Carreon, Phillipines

4. Quality of Water What is the quality of the water? Is it polluted? Contaminated? Who controls the water quality? Why?

5. Cost of Water What is the cost of the water? Is it free? Affordable? Who controls the cost? Why? © Oxfam photo, Kaya Ngwenwa, South Africa

6. Gender Dimension of Water Even water has a gender dimension. In many ways, gender roles dictate that women and girls are connected to water in many ways—fetching it, storing it, and using it. - © Oxfam photo, Shailan Parker, India

7. Accessing Water Women and girls often walk many miles to a water source. In some areas, this puts them at physical risk. It also leads to girls leaving school at an early age due to water needs. © Oxfam photo Gilvan Barreto, Honduras © Oxfam photo, Ami Vitale, Tanzania

8. Use of Water © Oxfam photo Annie Bungeroth, Guatemala Women and girls also carry out the tasks that require the use of water: cooking, cleaning (households, dishes and children), and drinking.

9. Water and Farming In many areas of the world, this also includes farming, especially for growing food for household use., © Oxfam photo Gilvan Barreto, Honduras

10. Custodians of Water Because the work of women and girls is so tied to water, women are also best-placed to be the custodians of water quality. It is in their best interest to ensure they have access to safe drinking water for themselves and their families., © Oxfam photo Anonymous, Kenya

11. Women and Water Needs Unfortunately, women are not always considered or allowed to control or manage water issues, nor are their needs always considered in water projects., © Oxfam photo Jane Beesley, Kenya © Oxfam photo Shumon Alam, Ethiopia

12. Water Privatization Increasingly, water is being managed and sold for profit by large multi- national companies. Privatization means higher costs and less income for families, and this, too, becomes the women’s burden., © Oxfam photo Jane Beesley, Kenya