For the launch of the 4th UN World Water Development Report (WWDR4), Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, presented the chapter on mainstreaming gender in water resources management.This is the first time since the launch of the first report in 2000 that this concept is explicitly taken into account.Various speakers stressed the importance of strengthening the decision-making power of women in the field of management and use of water. Equally women’s participation in all levels of water governance as well as information dissemination to stakeholders were emphasised.