Nov. 19 was declared “World Toilet Day” in 2001 by 17 toilet associations around the world. Since then, an annual World Toilet Summit has been established, as well as many other regional conferences. Each toilet association also has engaged in many activities promoting clean toilets in their respective countries.

This year’s theme is “We Deserve Better.” The World Toilet Organization (WTO) stands up for the 3 “WEs” in the theme:

• Toilets deserve better social status. The WTO has been striving to elevate the status of toilets to make  them status symbols and objects of desire. The WTO speaks on behalf of toilets - “We deserve better social status.”


• The second WE concerns the toilet cleaners. The WTO aims to professionalize the sanitation and restroom industry and to upgrade the skill sets of the restroom cleaners. The WTO speaks on behalf of the toilet cleaners - “We deserve better pay, respect and prospects.”


• The WTO speaks on behalf of 2.5 billion toilet-less people - “We deserve proper toilets.”

Since 2001, World Toilet Day has become a global platform for academics, sanitation experts, toilet designers, environmentalists, etc., to share the latest on rural and urban toilets.

The World Toilet Organization asks each individual, in his or her respective country, to request better equality (more facilities for women); more accessibility and special provisions (for the disabled and mothers with babies); clean toilets (for everyone); and more toilets (for the less fortunate).

For more information on World Toilet Day and other WTO initiatives, go to www.worldtoilet.org.