Phnom Penh Post
Next week, the leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam will gather for the third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Siem Reap. A key aim is to enhance joint efforts and partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The summit’s focus on SDGs presents an opportunity to put gender equality and social inclusion at the centre of Mekong River Basin management. It is widely recognised, regionally and globally, that space for women and girls to stand up, speak up and take action is central to achieving the SDGs.
Last year, Asean leaders adopted a declaration acknowledging that gender equality is a “precondition for the realisation of sustainable development”. Globally, the High-Level Panel on Water states that achieving SDG 6 on water requires action which listens to the needs of women, men and all social groups including those who are often left without a voice.
In the Mekong, women play important roles in the use and management of water and aquatic resources and are key contributors to local economies. Women and girls farm and fish, work in agriculture and fisheries throughout the river basin, manage household water supply, undertake cleaning and washing duties in rivers, grow riverbank gardens, collect aquatic resources for food and income, are involved in value-added processing of aquatic products, and are the primary sellers of produce at markets