Learn a few facts about World Toilet Day

When do we celebrate World Toilet Day?

World Toilet Day is celebrated on the same date every year, November 19. This holiday was established in 2013 by the UN General Assembly, based on resolution A/RES/67/291.

World Toilet Day is celebrated each year under a different theme. At the same time, various international organizations, as well as many associations, companies, and activists, run their own informational campaigns and organize different events on November 19, addressing various topics related to toilets in homes and public spaces.

What is the history of World Toilet Day?

The history of World Toilet Day is relatively short. It began in 2001 when the World Toilet Organization was founded in Singapore, with the mission of improving toilet standards worldwide. This organization places particular emphasis on public restrooms and basic water and sanitation infrastructure. Its founder, Jack Sim, has been organizing regular conferences from the very beginning, aiming to draw the attention of the public and international organizations to issues such as the lack of access to private or even clean toilets (which affects almost 40% of the world’s population). It turned out that what most of us consider standard — hygienic sanitary facilities with toilet paper and running water — remains a luxury for a large part of humanity.

Public health issues have also been raised, such as the lack of access to clean water in public spaces and homes, leading to thousands of children dying every year from diseases caused by poor sanitation.

Over time, the organization’s efforts began to yield tangible results. One of these was the adoption of the A/67/L.75 project titled "Sanitation for All" by the UN General Assembly. This happened in 2013. At the same time, resolution A/RES/67/291 was adopted, establishing November 19 as World Toilet Day every year.

What is the significance of World Toilet Day? It is invaluable when it comes to improving toilet standards!

The main goal of World Toilet Day is to raise awareness about the environmental and social issues related to the lack of access to sanitation facilities. More than one-third of the world’s population is forced to meet their physiological needs in conditions that are degrading to human dignity and basic hygiene standards. This, in turn, contributes to the contamination of drinking water and, consequently, the spread of infectious diseases, which often devastate communities in developing countries.

The World Toilet Organization continues its fight to raise toilet standards worldwide, with a particular focus on public restrooms.

The importance of access to a toilet is highlighted by data provided by UNICEF, which was also referenced during one of the World Toilet Days. The lack of sanitation facilities and proper hygiene products means that, in some regions, girls who begin menstruating are forced to miss school because of it. This, in turn, has far-reaching consequences, such as lower levels of education and reduced chances of securing employment in adulthood. The scale of this problem is enormous. For example, in Kenya, as many as 60% of female students do not attend school during menstruation.

As we can see, improving toilet standards worldwide not only protects against deadly diseases but also helps prevent social issues such as restricted access to education. It also protects the human right to personal safety and dignity.