There comes a point when a nation must pause, step beyond daily headlines, and ask itself a difficult question: what will happen to society if its women cannot live, work, travel, raise families, and participate in public life safely? South Africa is experiencing such a critical period.
In such moments, the phrase 'I am my sister's guardian' takes on deep meaning. This theme, chosen for the newly established AWSISA Women's Forum, goes beyond a simple expression of solidarity among women. It is a call for collective responsibility, asserting that the well-being of one woman is inextricably linked to the well-being of another.
The forum challenges society to abandon indifference and recognize that the threat, violence, or murder of one woman weakens the entire community. Behind every statistic is a daughter who will not return home, a mother whose children will grow up without her, a sister whose absence will be felt at family gatherings, and a community deprived of irreplaceable human potential.
For this reason, femicide cannot be viewed solely as a problem of criminal justice; it is also a crisis of social, cultural, economic, and developmental nature. Women are the primary custodians of living heritage, through which societies reproduce. For generations, they have passed down languages, stories, customs, culinary traditions, local knowledge, family lore, and community values.
When a woman dies, more than just a life is lost; a chain of knowledge, care, memory, and belonging is broken. A nation that constantly loses its women to violence is not just losing citizens—it is dismantling the human foundation of its future. The principle of 'I am my sister's guardian' extends not only to protection from physical violence but also to preserving the knowledge, values, traditions, and connections that women pass down through generations.
This is also closely related to another vital resource—water. Water and women are intrinsically linked to life. Water sustains households, agriculture, healthcare, and communities. Historically, women, especially in rural and underserved areas, have borne a disproportionately large responsibility for finding, managing, and protecting water for their families, which remains a global reality.
Local data from South Africa confirms the gender aspect of water access. According to Statistics South Africa reports, female-headed households are more often forced to draw water from streams or rivers than male-headed ones, and women spend more time doing so. The consequences go far beyond mere inconvenience.
Therefore, water infrastructure is also social infrastructure. A reliable tap closer to home is not just a service delivery achievement; it can mean less time spent walking, greater dignity, increased safety, and new opportunities for women and girls.
During South Africa's National Water Month in 2026, this very connection was highlighted, placing water and gender at the center of its theme and spotlighting women's leadership in water decision-making.
The forum must become a platform where the voices of women in the water and sanitation sector can be organized, amplified, and translated into action. It must connect professional women in water institutions with women in rural communities, municipalities, research institutes, civil society, and the broader development community.
Its mandate must go beyond simply celebrating women. It must pose complex questions: Are water projects designed with women's safety and real living conditions in mind? Are rural women adequately represented in water resource management? Are sanitary facilities safe and dignified? Are women equipped with skills to lead water conservation and climate change resilience initiatives? How can water infrastructure reduce, rather than perpetuate, gender inequality? And, importantly, how can the water sector contribute to the overall fight against violence against women?
AWSISA's response must be based on partnership, evidence, and action. The Women's Forum can facilitate dialogues between women in the sector and communities; promote women's participation in water resource management; support mentorship and leadership development; advocate for safer and more accessible water and sanitation infrastructure; elevate local and community knowledge; and build partnerships in water security, climate resilience, and women's economic empowerment.
It can also help shift the perception of women in the water sector: from beneficiaries and users to leaders, custodians, professionals, and decision-makers. This is not about placing the burden of solving femicide on women. The phrase 'I am my sister's guardian' does not mean that women must bear the burden of protecting themselves from violence. It means we refuse to leave each other in distress. It signifies solidarity among women and accountability from the entire society.
The responsibility to end violence lies with all of society. Men must participate in this transformation. Institutions must be accountable. Communities must refuse to normalize violence. Law enforcement agencies must prosecute the guilty. And infrastructure planning must recognize that safety and dignity are fundamental aspects of service provision.
The grief caused by recent murders is immense. But grief must transform into action. The AWSISA Women's Forum provides the water sector with a unique opportunity to contribute to this action: by connecting women's protection with water protection, community resilience, and living heritage.
We cannot claim to protect our heritage while allowing the women who carry that heritage to live in fear. We cannot speak of water security while women continue to bear a disproportionate burden due to water scarcity. We cannot build climate-resilient communities without the knowledge, leadership, and participation of women. And we cannot build a sustainable nation while women are being killed.
Thus, the task before us is much broader than water. It is broader than gender. It is broader than infrastructure. It is about what kind of society we want to become. Let the AWSISA Women's Forum be part of that answer.
Let 'I am my sister's guardian' become not just a theme, but a commitment to stand beside women, defend their dignity, amplify their voices, uphold their right to live without fear, and ensure that their knowledge and leadership continue to strengthen future generations. Let us protect women. Let us protect water. Let us preserve the knowledge and heritage that binds generations together. Because every protected woman is a preserved future, every empowered girl is a strengthened generation, and every secured drop of water is an investment in the life of our communities.