World Toilet Day

In a world reshaped by rising climate pressures, urban growth, and inequality, safe sanitation remains a cornerstone of public health and human dignity. The humble toilet is an icon of progress – preventing disease, protecting the environment, and preserving dignity and opportunity. Without safe sanitation, sustainable development falters. Contaminated water can spread diarrhoeal illnesses, which kill over 1,000 children a day. Untreated human waste pollutes ecosystems and fuels greenhouse gas emissions. And for millions of women and girls, the lack of a secure toilet means missed work and school. In the past decade, 1.2 billion people gained access to safe sanitation. But 3.4 billion are still at risk –– marginalized by geography, income, or disability. Meanwhile, climate change and ageing infrastructure are straining waste systems. This World Toilet Day, it’s time to speed up access to future-ready toilets that are accessible, climate-resilient, low-emission; and well-funded. The toi...

Sanitation in a Changing World is the theme of this year’s World Toilet Day and a stark reminder that while our world is impacted by rising climate risks, the need for safe sanitation never changes. Globally, the climate crisis risks rolling back hard-won progress on safely managed sanitation for millions of children, preventing them from living a life of health, dignity, and opportunity. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods and droughts can overwhelm sanitation systems, leaving communities vulnerable to diseases and struggling to maintain even basic sanitation services. The good news is that we have solutions. As the co-founder and leader of the Climate Resilient Sanitation Coalition, UNICEF and key partners are working with Governments and communities around the world to accelerate progress on safe sanitation that can withstand climate shocks. On this World Toilet Day, UNICEF is calling for stronger investment in climate-resilient sanitation — systems designed to endure extr...

Happy World Toilet Day. From time to time throughout human history, despite how much world has changed, the need for safely managed sanitation has always remained. Humans need safe sanitation, and in this case… toilets – to sustain their lives and livelihoods. It is not something we can ever take for granted. Unfortunately, even as global progress on access to safe sanitation continues to grow, billions of people still face daily challenges in accessing toilet. Women and girls are most affected with the absence of safe sanitation. The pursuit to ensure sanitation for all is a collective fight for humanity’s future. We have seen time and again how the lack of access to safely managed sanitation leads to outbreaks of disease, environmental degradation, and even economic hardship. Our changing world presents new challenges. Disasters, climate change, and prolonged humanitarian emergencies are among the present challenges that limits access to safe sanitation. But beyond just challenges – ...