World Toilet Day: November 19

Every year, the United Nations and several other international organizations celebrate World Toilet Day on November 19. The official convener of the World Toilet Day is the UN-Water.

What is the theme of World Toilet Day?

In 2020, the World Toilet Day is celebrated under the following theme

Theme: Sustainable Sanitation and Climate Change

What is the need to celebrate World Toilet Day?

According to the United Nations, more than 4.2 billion live without safely managed sanitation. Also, more than 673 million people still practice open defecation. According to WHO, 58% of diarrhoea cases are caused due to unsafe water, poor hygiene practices and poor sanitation. The World toilet Day will help reduce these conditions by increasing awareness on sanitation.

What are the SDGs achieved in celebrating World Toilet Day?

The celebrations of the day help in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6, which is, “Clean Water and Sanitation for all”.  The SDG 6.2 particularly focuses “Ending Open Defecation”.

How are World Toilet Day themes selected?

The first world Toilet Day was celebrated in 2012. Since 2016, same theme is being used for both World Water Day and World Toilet Day. The themes are selected based on the World Water Development Report. The World Water Development Report is released by UN-Water. It examines the ways to manage world water resources.

What is UN-Water?

United Nations Water is an interagency mechanism that coordinates efforts of international organizations working on water and sanitation. It was established in 2003. The organization is important as more than 2.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water.

World Toilet Day in India

In India, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti is to present “Swachhata Puraskar” under the Swachh Bharat Mission on World Toilet Day. The award ceremony is to be held virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic.

India is currently implementing Phase 2 of Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin. It focuses on solid and liquid waste management and open defecation free sustainability.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020