World Toilet Day

World Toilet Day is celebrated around the world on November 19th. This unusual holiday was invented in order to honor and recognize the importance of a device without which no day passes. Some may say it’s a joke, but we invite you to mark the date and learn more about sanitation issues.

History

Access to adequate sanitation is a right for every individual. Despite this, 2.5 billion people on the planet do not have access to equipped places. This affects the development of many diseases such as hepatitis, cholera, and typhoid fever. In Africa, diseases are killing the population. Open latrines are also a cause of harassment of girls, and when they are menstruating, schoolgirls have to stay at home to provide themselves with at least some care, which affects their education and consequently their poverty and lack of work. The holiday was founded by Singaporean philanthropist Jackie Sim, together with the World Toilet Organization, to tackle these issues.

Interesting facts

• In the 1860s there were over 1200 toilets in Paris, which were considered true works of art.
• In Mexico, it is forbidden to throw toilet paper down the drain, as pipes easily become clogged and even burst.
• In Scotland, it is common to knock on the door of a stranger and ask to use their toilet.
• The inhabitants of Ireland hate public institutions, and will endure to the last until they get home.

How to take part

There are many ways to take part in World Toilet Day. Learn more about the problems and become a volunteer, or offer your help to the world. Make donations to special funds, or get together with friends and talk about the serious topics of unsanitary conditions.

When is World Toilet Day celebrated in 2023?

World Toilet Day is observed on November 19 each year.

Observations