Women in Europe to Present Water Projects on the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico
Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) along with its network organizations will take part in the 4th World Water Forum (WWF-4) in Mexico on March 16-22, 2006.
15.03.2006 |WECF Press Release
Theme of the WWF-4 is local action. WECF will give a presentation of its local projects on water and sanitation in 20 villages from 8 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Financial experts from the World Bank and OECD have chosen these projects as success-examples.
From smelly-latrines to EcoSan toilets
WECF have accomplished various projects, namely: building EcoSan toilets for schools and households; installation of water meters; facilitated in providing financing opportunities for water purification and safe drinking water; and capacity-building of local organizations.
WECF discovered that in some villages smelly and unsustainable latrines were built out of World Bank money. These latrines have spoiled the groundwater and have contaminated drinking water with nitrates. This has resulted in various illnesses with children. In contrast WECF built EcoSan toilets that do not pollute water sources and do not need a central sewage system, thus improving hygiene drastically.
Sascha Gabizon, WECF International Director: “WECF has helped children who were ill due to lack of proper sanitation and clean drinking water in villages with water of high concentration of nitrates, bacteria and chemical contents. This we do with simple, direct and safe solutions that are affordable for locals. Some solutions, like EcoSan toilets, protect not only drinking water, but produce a valuable fertilizer as well, which the farmers can use as fertilizers for agriculture purposes. This reduces costs and increases their yields.”
Key to Success
During the World Water Conference and on the 4th World Water Forum (WWF-4), WECF will convey the key factors of the success of its endeavors and how it worked on a local level. WECF leads the EcoSanitation session, and also the session on Risk Management in war areas, such as Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Director Sascha Gabizon takes part as an expert in water panels and will talk to Ministers of Environment on how to finance MDG-7.
WECF also presents 3 new brochures:
- Results of the EcoSan toilet user survey
- Manual: how to build a dry urine-diverting toilet
- Poster: best practices, education for schools
WWF-4 Women’s Coalition
WECF works together with Women for Water, Water for Women (WfWfW), an international strategic alliance of women’s organizations working on sustainable development, water, poverty reduction and gender. WfWfW organizes the Women for Water Work Conference in March 12-15, previous on WWF-4. In cooperation with WEDO and the Gender Water Alliance a worldwide coalition is formed for WWF-4. Monica Diaz, WECF project-leader, has prepared the participation of the Women’s Alliance, an exhibition stand and various excursions.
Women for Water Work Conference
In Mexico Women’s organizations from all over the world will create effective solutions for real and local water projects, together with experts. The key role of women will be emphasized, because mostly women have the ability to mobilize people on a local level in trying to improve water supplies and sustainable sanitation. With the smallest amounts of money they create the biggest results. The WfWfW Work Conference gives input for WWF-4.
Contact persons: Sascha Gabizon, international director, +49 1 72 86 37 586
Monica Diaz +52 33 36295966
Women in Europe, +31 30 2310300, wecf@wecf.org
