#wecantwait: 19 November is World Toilet Day

Thursday, 19 November is World Toilet Day.

Currently, 2.5 billion people or 36 percent of the world’s population, do not have access to adequate toilet facilities, (a figure that the Human Rights Council says may even be an underestimate) due to challenges such as inequality, safety and affordability of services. Consequently, nearly 1 billion people worldwide have to defecate in the open.

Lack of sanitation can also lead to major economic loss for individuals and families due to resultant health issues and inability to work. The World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) also estimates that poor sanitation costs 18 African countries alone $5.5 billion every year in economic losses.

Lack of improved sanitation also contributes to a child’s death every two and a half minutes from preventable disease, and women are consequently more vulnerable to sexual violence. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that “a staggering 1.25 billion women and girls would enjoy greater health and increased safety with improved sanitation. Evidence also shows safe and clean toilets encourage girls to stay in school.”

While the world did not succeed in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people without adequate access to sanitation, missing the mark by about 700 million, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has prioritized universal sanitation, calling for “sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” in Goal 6.

Target 6.2 further elaborates the need to “achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.” Additionally, universal sanitation and clean water could potentially decrease global disease burden by just over 9 percent.

Read more about World Toilet Day and UN Water here.