Event Details
This year, World Toilet Day is focusing on the link between sanitation and nutrition – drawing the world’s attention to the importance of toilets in supporting better nutrition and improved health. Lack of access to clean drinking water and sanitation, along with the absence of good hygiene practices, are among the underlying causes of poor nutrition.
The UN estimates that 946 million people practice open defecation. Defecating openly means diseases like diarrhea and intestinal worms can quickly spread. A vicious cycle exists between diarrhea and undernutrition, especially for children.
Kids with diarrhea eat less and are less able to absorb and use nutrients from their food; malnourished children are more susceptible to diarrhea when exposed to fecal material from their environment. This has serious, and often fatal impacts on their health and development. Almost half of all child deaths are related to malnutrition. 159 million children under five are stunted - a condition that impairs physical and cognitive development. Young mothers are also affected by stunting, which is associated with 1 in 5 maternal deaths.
Combining interventions that improve sanitation and hygiene with appropriate infant and young child feeding practices contributes to positive nutrition outcomes. In addressing the sanitation crisis, we can improve the health, dignity, safety, survival and livelihoods – building blocks for the Sustainable Development Goals. We can’t wait to bring these solutions to the people who need them most.
Key Facts and States
- There are currently 2.4 billion people who do not have access to improved sanitation, including basic toilets or latrines.
- 946 million people worldwide still defecate in the open.
- Almost 1,000 children die every day from diarrhoeal diseases due to a lack of safe water, sanitation and basic hygiene.
- Poor WASH conditions have been closely linked to stunting, which affects around 159 million children worldwide, causing irreversible physical and cognitive damage.
- We must double our current efforts in order to end open defecation by 2030.
How can I participate?
1. Save the date - November 19th!
On www.unwater.org/worldtoiletday you find all the resources and materials you’ll need to particiapte, including information about this years theme, posters, infographics, social media links and more.
2. Take action
Want to share your support for ending the sanitation crisis but don’t know how? Take part in one of our suggested activities and join the global call for change.
2.1 Be a thinker
On World Toilet Day, think about the 2.4 billion people who don’t use a toilet, and the 946 million who have to go in the open. Think about how we can overcome the global sanitation crisis so that our global neighbours can have access to one of the world’s most critical inventions—the toilet. Show support on World Toilet Day by posing as a “Thinker” and sharing your photo and thought on access to toilets.
Share like this:
Many of our global neighbours don’t have access to a toilet. Give this a thought, its #WorldToiletDay #WeCantWait
2.2 Be an artist
Use art to let the the world know what it means to gain access to a toilet. Write a poem, paint a picture, hang one of posters in your office or design your own! Be sure to share your art with us on social media using the official hashtag #WorldToiletDay and #WeCantWait.
Share like this:
This #WorldToiletDay we brought art to the campaign - this is my contribution!
2.3 Be a sharer
This World Toilet Day keep your toilets clean, open the door and invite people to use them. Whether you’re in a rural or urban setting, in a private or public space, you can share your toilet to show support for the 2.4 Billion who still lack access to one! Make sure you share your story with us and on social media, always using the official hashtag #WorldToiletDay and #WeCantWait. Take photos and bring your story to life.
Share like this:
Happy #WorldToiletDay! Today I share my toilet to show support for the 2.4 billion people who lack access to one. www.unwater.org/worldtoiletday
3. Map the global campaign
Host an event and publish it to the official World map at www.unwater.org/worldtoiletday
4. #WorldToiletDay
Help us elevate the conversation around sanitation and nutrition this #WorldToiletDay and remind the world why #WeCantWait to end the global sanitation crisis.
4.1 Suggested Facebook and Google+ Posts before November 19
- 1/3 of the global population lack access to a basic toilet. This could be you. Join #WorldToiletDay on unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- #WeCantWait while ~1 billion people practice #opendefecation. #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- #WeCantWait while ~1,000 children die every day due to diarrhea caused by poor sanitation & unsafe water. #WorldToiletDay
- #WeCantWait. We must double current efforts to achieve universal access to sanitation by 2030. #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- #DidYouKnow stunting affects 159 million children worldwide, causing irreversible physical damage #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- ~1 in 4 children globally are affected by stunting. #wecantwait for improved sanitation to make a difference. #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- Access to optimal sanitation reduces the odds of stunting by 27%. #WeCantWait #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
4.2 Suggested Facebook and Google+ Posts on World Toilet Day
- 1/3 of the global population don’t use basic toilets. This is unacceptable. #WeCantWait. Today its #WorldToiletDay. Join in! unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- Many of our global neighbours don’t have access to a basic toilet. This is unacceptable. Show your support on #WorldToiletDay, giving this a thought. #WorldToiletDay #WeCantWait ADD THINKER SELFIE unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- Happy #WorldToiletDay! Today I share my toilet to show my support for the 2.4 billion people who lack access to one. unwater.org/worldtoiletday ADD PHOTO or LINK
- Of the world’s seven billion people, 2.4 billion people do not have access to a basic toilet. Almost 1 billion people still defecate in the open. This is unacceptable. #WeCantWait, join #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- #WeCantWait to stop frequent illness, unlocking children from a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and altering growth. Join the #WorldToiletDay campaign on unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- Nearly 1,000 children die every day from diarrhoeal diseases linked to a lack of safe water, sanitation and basic hygiene. We need to act now – #WeCantWait. Join the global call to action, its #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
4.3 Suggested Tweets before November 19
- 1/3 of the global population lack access to a basic toilet. This could be you. Join #WorldToiletDay on unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- #WeCantWait while ~1 billion people practice #opendefecation. #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- #WeCantWait while ~1,000 children die every day due to diarrhea caused by poor sanitation & unsafe water. #WorldToiletDay
- #WeCantWait. We must double current efforts to achieve universal access to sanitation by 2030. #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- #DidYouKnow stunting affects 159 million children worldwide, causing irreversible physical damage #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- ~1 in 4 children globally are affected by stunting. #wecantwait for improved sanitation to make a difference.#WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- Access to optimal sanitation reduces the odds of stunting by 27%. #WeCantWait #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
4.4 Suggested Tweets on World Toilet Day
- 1/3 of the global population does not use a basic toiet. #WeCantWait for this to change #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- Many of our global neighbours don’t have access to a toilet. Give this a thought, its #WorldToiletDay #WeCantWait ADD YOUR THINKER SELFIE
- Today I share my toilet thinking of all those without one. Happy #WorldToiletDay! unwater.org/worldtoiletday ADD YOUR PHOTO or LINK
- #WeCantWait for 2.4 billion people to gain access to a #toilet. #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
- Better #sanitation supports better #nutrition & improved #health, especially for women & children. #WeCantWait its #WorldToiletDay!
- #WeCantWait for all children to develop healthily. Better #sanitation supports better #nutrition. #WorldToiletDay unwater.org/worldtoiletday
Join us in the SuSanA Forum!
Link / URL to Event Webpage
http://www.unwater.org/campaigns/world-toilet-day/en/
