Resumen

VAZQUEZ-GARCIA, Verónica; PEREZ-OLVERA, Ma. Antonia  y  MUNOZ-RODRIGUEZ, Carolina. Development, gender and the human right to water: A comparative study in Hidalgo, México. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2014, vol.11, n.3, pp.295-314. ISSN 1870-5472.

The expansion of the portfolio of human rights beyond formal democracy (the right to vote), has kept alive the possibilities of building an inclusive society. One of the rights recently acquired is the right to water. This article analyzes the exercise of this right by women in regard to four indicators: household services, availability, quality and efficiency in water management. The research was performed in two ejidos of the state of Hidalgo: Colonia Veracruz (CV) and San Pedrito (SP). In order to obtain information, several methods were used: a workshop, interviews and exploratory visits, two questionnaires and analysis of the biological quality of water. The results show that CV is an ejido with better indicators of economic growth (contribution to the Gross Domestic Product) and water services in the household, although there are problems of scarcity and quality of water. On the contrary, SP is found in a region identified as poor which, nevertheless, has an efficient system for water management, something that translates into greater availability and quality. It is concluded that women in SP are in better conditions to exercise their right to water.

Palabras llave : water; quality; availability; management; services.