Water is essential for life. Yet many millions of people around the world face water shortages. Many millions of children die every year from water-borne diseases. And drought regularly afflicts some of the world's poorest countries. The world needs to respond much better.

We need to increase water efficiency, especially in agriculture. We need to free women and girls from the daily chore of hauling water, often over great distances.
We must involve them in decision-making on water management. We need to make sanitation a priority.