Within the framework of the Interreligious Forum of the Ninth Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, held in Santiago, Chile, on April 13 and 14, 2026, Session B was dedicated to reflecting on how to contribute to SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). The session brought together specialists from ECLAC and other organizations to discuss the challenges of sustainable development from a perspective of cooperation and social commitment.   

Among the panelists was Dr. Silvia L. Saravia Matus, Economic Affairs Officer in charge of water issues at the Natural Resources Division of ECLAC, who presented the paper “Thirst for Justice: Water as Life and Dignity.” In her presentation, she argued that water should not be seen solely as an economic input, but as an essential element for human life, dignity, and social cohesion.   

Silvia Saravia also warned about the social and health dimensions of the water crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean. She pointed out that gaps in access to water and sanitation continue to disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations, and highlighted the human cost of this situation, especially for children and historically marginalized communities. Her message emphasized the need to move from a logic focused solely on water use to a vision based on care, equity, and justice. 

The session allowed the debate on water, energy, and sustainable communities to be placed within a broader ethical framework, reaffirming the importance of partnerships and dialogue among different actors to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. In this context, Silvia Saravia's participation provided a clear perspective: advancing SDG 6 requires putting human dignity and water justice at the center of public action.