Early in 2024, UN-Water launched their World Water Day campaign “Water for Peace.” The goal of the campaign is to shine a light on the role of water in global conflict and how rising water scarcity has created instability and exacerbated injustices around the world.

This relationship between water stress and violence exists on all levels of human interaction – from disputes between countries that share bodies of water to unequal distribution of water in communities across the world to conflicts within families. For many women in water-stressed areas, this violence is a danger they face every day.

From the family displaced because of drought, to the woman facing the risk of assault as she collects water for her family, to the young girl dropping out of school because her school doesn’t have running water or safe latrines, water scarcity robs women and girls of safety, dignity and autonomy.

Gender-based violence is a pervasive issue across the world, but women and girls in developing countries are disproportionately affected. If we want to create a world safe for women and girls, combating the growing tide of water scarcity must be part of the solution.

For International Women’s Day 2024, we’re taking a look at the common forms of gender-based violence and injustice in water-stressed communities around the world – and how we can use safe water initiatives to create a safer, freer future for women and girls everywhere.