Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2012
CONTENTS
What is World Toilet Day? Why toilets matter? What can I do? 1 3 7
the World Toilet Organization and the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council are joining forces with the campaign I give a shit, do you?, encouraging di erent groups such as media, development organizations, the private sector and civil society to advocate and take action for safe toilets.
Over the past decade, World Toilet Day has become an important platform to raise awareness, inspire advocates and demand action from governments. Campaigners have taken World Toilet Day to new heights creating a giant toilet sculpture in Singapore, a march between rural villages in the Philippines, a Big Squat in the United Kingdom along with lots of other attention grabbing stunts!
I give a shiT do you? , Join World Toilet Day, take action and spread the word.
The hardest hit are children. Diarrhoeal diseases, a direct consequence of inadequate sanitation, are the second leading cause of death of young children in developing countries, killing more than HIV/AIDS, malaria and measles combined. Sanitation impacts the lives of women and girls. Every day, millions of women and girls lack privacy and have to wait for dusk to relieve themselves often a dangerous excursion confronting the fear, and sometimes the reality, of sexual harassment and rape. Proper sanitation facilities are also instrumental for women and girls during menstruation, who need space for washing and somewhere to dispose of sanitatary pads. Especially for adolescent girls, a clean and private toilet impacts their school performance. However, menstruation and its management remain far too often hidden in a culture of silence.
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#IGIVEASHIT Did you know that... improved sanitation in developing countries typically yields about $ 5 in economic returns for every $ 1 spent
The many consequences of lacking proper toilet facilities contribute to ongoing poverty and undermine the economic and social development of a region or country. Recent studies show that investing in sanitation brings prosperity and growth. Each dollar spent on sanitation gives a return of 5 dollars. Toilets are thus a good business investment.
So why is it that today, despite the clear consequences of bad sanitation and the obvious bene ts of good sanitation, almost one third of the world population does not have access to a proper toilet?
Although the sanitation crisis results from a set of complex causes, in fact, prime reason is that nobody likes to talk toilets, and too few are giving sanitation the priority it demands. What the sanitation challenge needs is leadership: politicians and decision makers, the international community, religious authorities, businesses, media, and local communities need to learn, speak out and act.
References :
Hutton, G, Haller, L (2004). Evaluation of the costs and bene ts of water and sanitation improvements at the global level. Geneva, World Health Organization. UNICEF, WHO (2012). Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation 2012 Update. New York and Geneva, United Nations Chirldrens Fund and World Health Organization. WaterAid, FANSA, WSSCC (2011). South Asian Peoples perspective on sanitation: Synthesis review. London and Geneva, WaterAid, Freshwater Action Network, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. WHO (2010). World health statistics. Part II: Global health indicators. Geneva, World Health Organization. WHO (2012). Global costs and bene ts of drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage. Geneva, World Health Organization. WSSCC (2002). The Big Issue. Geneva, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
There are no limits to what you can do to raise awareness for sanitation and participate in the WTD campaign. You can : Host an event or activity
Organize a toilet queue Plan a mass squat Prepare for a toilet sit-in Host a photo exhibition of toilet related stories from your area Host a public latrine exhibition Take any of the ideas listed above and organize a road show Organize a photo or slogan competition related to WTD
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WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION COLLABORATIVE COUNCIL The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is a global partnership and membership organization that works to accelerate peoples access to safe, sustainable water supply, sanitation services and hygienic behaviour. It enhances collaboration among water, sanitation and hygiene sector agencies and professionals to deliver its objectives. It does so through partnership and knowledge building to facilitate improved sanitation and hygiene for those that are underserved. WSSCC works to accelerate improved sanitation and hygiene in selected developing countries through its grant facility - the Global Sanitation Fund. With a Geneva-based Secretariat operating within the United Nations system; a network of almost 2000 members throughout the world and a range of partnerships, WSSCC is well placed to advance advocacy for sustainable, pro-poor sanitation and hygiene interventions.
www.wsscc.org
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WORLD TOILET ORGANIZATION World Toilet Organization (WTO) is a global non-pro t organization dedicated to improving the conditions of toilets and sanitation worldwide. Our motto better lives, bigger dreams represents our core beliefs. We understand that it is not just about providing access to adequate, clean sanitation its also about giving people back their dignity, providing comfort, improving lives and o ering empowerment so that they can strive for a brighter future. We are one of the few organizations whose sole focus is on toilets. Unfortunately, unlike water, toilets do not get the same attention and resources needed. We believe that through education, training and creating a sanitation marketplace, we can provide business opportunities, sanitation and clean toilets for all.
www.worldtoilet.org
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