Turkey hosted 5th World Water Forum, in Istanbul, on 16-22 March, 2009. The forum brought together public and private organizations, international organizations, NGOs, research organizations, universites from all over the world to discuss the water issue from many aspects and to take the attention of all stakeholders on the water issue. A number of events and organizations took place during the week. ‘Water and Woman’ workshop was one of these events in which Leyla Arsan, TAGES CEO, participated and made a speech on ‘Water, Innovation, Woman and Sustainability’.
Water issue has been highlighted with water scarcity and conflict, sustainable water management, actions to value water, awareness raising on the issue to put the water issue on the political agenda with the 5th World Water Forum. Many side events were also organized during the water week such as ‘Water and Women’ workshop which was organized by Istanbul Technical University, Turkish Women’s Water Platform, Gender and Water Alliance and Women for Water Partnership on 14-15th March 2009. The workshop aimed to
- Capture the interest and involvement of women from Turkey and other countries
- Open up the debate on the influence of cultural differences including equity mainstreaming and gender aspects in sustainable development and water management
- Enhance participation and visibility of female community leaders, experts and policy makers at all levels in the 5th World Water Forum
- Formulate recommendation to be presented in Special Session March 16 on Way Forward for Gender Equity
Leyla Arsan, TAGES CEO, made a speech in the workshop on Water, Innovation, Woman and Sustainability in the Why Gender Mainstreaming in Water Management? Session. Leyla Arsan pointed out the global problems related to water such as access to new water resources, cleaning of polluted water, better management of waterand global solutions that are required to respond this problem. She took attention to the necessities of innovation like cooperation, sustainability, diversity, creativity, scientific approach which have already existed in women. Therefore, she underlines that for a better innovation in water, woman participation is a value and European funding programmes provides an environment for innovation.
To view Leyla Arsan’s presentation:
Water, Innovation, Woman, Sustainability
