Water Rights: An Essential Component Overlooked in Women’s Rights in Sistan and Baluchestan
Water rights are a critical yet often overlooked aspect of women’s rights. This is particularly true in regions where access to clean and reliable water sources is scarce. In Sistan and Baluchestan, one of Iran’s most underdeveloped provinces, the issue of water scarcity is intertwined with systemic gender inequalities, socio-economic challenges, and environmental degradation.
This white-paper explores how water insecurity exacerbates the vulnerabilities of women and girls in the region. It highlights the significant impact on their health, education, economic opportunities, and overall quality of life.
Moreover, this document explores the severe water scarcity in Sistan and Baluchestan, which is Iran’s poorest province. Access to clean water disproportionately impacts women and girls. Water insecurity exacerbates gender inequalities, socio-economic challenges, and environmental degradation, affecting health, education, and economic opportunities.
Key Points
- Water and Gender: Women bear the burden of water collection. They spend hours daily on this task, which limits their time for education and income-generating activities. Lack of clean water and sanitation exposes them to health risks, abuse, and reduced opportunities.
- Socio-Economic Context: Sistan and Baluchestan faces extreme poverty, high unemployment, and reliance on agriculture, which is severely affected by droughts. Many residents engage in informal trade to survive. Additionally, systemic discrimination against the Baluchi ethnic group fuels social unrest.
- Environmental Issues: The province suffers from both physical and economic water scarcity due to droughts, mismanagement, and insufficient infrastructure. This has led to migration, desertification, and food insecurity.
- Impact on Women and Girls:
- Increased workload from water collection.
- Health risks from waterborne diseases and poor maternal care.
- Educational setbacks due to time spent fetching water and early marriage.
- Economic and social displacement due to drought-induced migration.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The document emphasizes the importance of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and calls for a comprehensive strategy to address water scarcity, improve health, and empower women.
- Case Study – Bangladesh: A project in Bangladesh’s coastal regions successfully addressed water scarcity and empowered women through rainwater harvesting and livelihood diversification. It improved household income, food security, and women’s participation in income-generating activities.
- Recommendations for Sistan and Baluchestan:
- Secure financial support and partnerships with local and international organizations.
- Implement rainwater harvesting and improve water infrastructure.
- Provide education and capacity-building programs for women.
- Promote alternative livelihoods like eco-tourism and handicrafts.
- Establish monitoring frameworks to track progress.
By adopting lessons from Bangladesh and tailoring solutions to local challenges, Sistan and Baluchestan can improve water access, health, and economic opportunities for women and children, fostering sustainable development.
