As the world marks World Toilet Day today, the United Nations draws attention to the urgent sanitation crisis that affects billions globally, exacerbated by conflict, climate change, and systemic neglect. Since its inception in 2013, this annual observance has highlighted the critical need for safe and accessible toilet facilities to ensure the well-being and dignity of all people.
Theme
This year’s theme, "Toilets – A Place for Peace," highlights the intersection of sanitation with peace and security, particularly in regions experiencing conflict and instability.
The statistics surrounding global sanitation are staggering. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3.5 billion people still lack access to safely managed sanitation services, and 419 million people continue to practice open defecation. These alarming figures underscore the essential role that sanitation plays in safeguarding public health and preventing diseases such as cholera, which thrive in unsanitary conditions.
WHO reported in 2023 that unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene are responsible for approximately 1,000 deaths of children under five every day. If universal access to improved sanitation was achieved, it could save 1.4 million lives annually.
Children living in such contexts are three times more likely to practice open defecation and are eight times more likely to lack access to clean water. The impact of poor sanitation is devastating, as children in these regions are nearly three times more likely to die from sanitation-related diseases than from direct violence.
Call to Action
This year’s observance calls on governments and organisations to prioritise resilient sanitation systems that can withstand disruptions from conflict, climate-induced disasters, and economic upheavals.
In India, World Toilet Day serves as a reminder of the country’s continued commitment to improving sanitation and maintaining its Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), launched in 2014, over 11.73 crore household toilets have been built.
The mission has helped reduce diarrheal deaths by 300,000 annually and saved families in ODF regions an average of INR 50,000 per year in healthcare costs.
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This year, India launched the campaign “Hamara Shauchalay: Hamara Samman” to link sanitation with human dignity and human rights, particularly for women and girls. The campaign will run until Human Rights Day on December 10, 2024.
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