The 2006 World Water Week in Stockholm takes place August 20–26, 2006, at the Stockholm City Conference Centre.

 

 

Capturing the Big Picture of Gender in Water Power Relations in Policy and Practise: How to Utilise Existing Knowledge?

Tuesday 22 August, morning

Convenors: Gender and Water Alliance, Stockholm International Water Institute, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and UNDESA/Division for the Advancement of Women

Despite the accepted benefits of mainstreaming gender and the increasing number of international commitments, real, difference-making improvements are not happening fast enough on the ground. What are the reasons for this? From the broad perspectives of politics, education and other social issues, the seminar will look at current challenges and opportunities of mainstreaming gender in decision making at all levels, and of scaling-up good practices and linking politics and policy to action on the ground. Gender and other power relations intersect on all levels, which seemingly obstruct the implementation and multiplication of good practices.

Drivers for change can be found in good policies, in gender conscious politicians, in gender awareness on all levels, in education, in stimulating girls to choose technical subjects, and by encouraging poor women and men to contribute with their specific knowledge.

The seminar includes keynote speakers and panelists representing both higher political levels and grassroots levels.

Programme

Case Studies

• India: Institutional Changes in Water Management: Where and Why Does the Mainstreaming of Gender Get Blocked? Ms. Nafisa Barot, Utthan
  • Guatemala: Disaster Management and Gender Relations: Government Versus NGOs. Ms. Lilliana Arrieta, GWP Central America
  • South Africa: Gender Mainstreaming in the Water Sector
  in South Africa. Ms. Kalinga Pelpola, Dept. of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa
  

Presentation of Report by Comprehensive Assessment,
Both Ends and Gender and Water Alliance
Effective Mainstreaming of Gender in Water Management for Sustainable Livelihoods: From Guidelines to Practice, including a Minimum Agenda for Policy Makers and Water Managers.

Water Decade for Life
UN-Water gives update about gender in the programme and progress towards reaching objectives: obstacles and opportunities.

Panel
A diverse group of panelists will introduce the subject from their own perspective.

____________________________________________________________________