President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) Abdulla Shahid has stated access to adequate and clean water and sanitation is a basic human right. Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, made the statement in his address at the 4th Global Water Operators' Partnerships Congress.
Speaking at the event, PGA Shahid said one in five children worldwide does not have enough water to meet their everyday needs. He highlighted a report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) which stated that more than USD 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children, live in areas of high-water vulnerability.
The PGA said water extremes affected by climate already contribute to the migration and displacement of millions of people. 80% of households with water shortages, women and girls are responsible for water collection, which often means travelling long distances and carrying heavy loads, in some cases with a high risk of violence, he said.
The PGA noted how the time required to collect water can pull girls out of school and leave women with fewer options to earn an income. He said women and girls around the world spend a collective 200 million hours every day collecting water.
Furthermore, PGA Shahid highlighted the indispensable role water operators play in providing these essential services and said support is crucial for this group, whether in access to new technologies or in skills enhancement. He concluded his remarks by calling upon the international community to support efforts to provide resources and capacity building to communities that have been deprived of clean water and sanitation.