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Global environmental degradation is threatening freshwater security worldwide, limiting access to clean water and amplifying inequalities across the water-energy-food nexus. Climate change, rising water demands, and pollution exacerbate these challenges, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Women and girls, in particular, bear the brunt of water insecurity, spending millions of hours daily on water collection—often under dangerous conditions that hinder their education and economic opportunities. In many traditional and Indigenous cultures, women serve as water protectors, yet they remain underrepresented in decision-making roles within water governance, diplomacy, research, and industry, where they comprise only 17-25% of the workforce. This side event, coinciding with World Water Week, highlights the critical need for gender equity in water security. It explores the barriers preventing women’s participation in the water sector and presents tangible solutions for advancing women into leadership roles. Through evidence-based policy recommendations and transdisciplinary research, the event fosters dialogue on eliminating gender disparities in water governance and management. By integrating lived experiences and global perspectives, this session aims to drive cross-boundary action towards more inclusive and equitable water security solutions.