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'World Toilet Day': Fighting gender based sanitization issues

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STP Team
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'World Toilet Day': Fighting gender based sanitization issues

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One of the constant things we see in every documentary about India is a man urinating on the road. And this is not just in the rural areas; it’s a common site in every city of the country. According to statistics, over 1.2 billion people in India do not have access to toilets; they all urinate and defecate in the open. As difficult as it for everyone, women are at its worst end.

 

Today, 19th November, has been announced as the ‘World Toilet Day’ by the United Nations. According to their report, 2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to proper sanitary conditions. This is hugely challenging for women because their inability to access toilets makes it impossible for them to maintain menstrual hygiene. This is one of the major reasons for young girls dropping out of school.

 

As a part of its 2015 Millennium Development Goals, the U.N. has been promoting access to safe and clean toilets and has pledged to provide 1.25 million better health and safety with the improvement of sanitation facilities. Gender based violence and Sanitization is this year’s theme for ‘World Toilet Day.’

 

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Hindustan Times>

 

Catarina de Albuquerque, the U.N. special rapporteur on the right to water and sanitation, told US News, “In many countries, social or cultural norms prevent girls and women from using the same sanitation facilities as male relatives, for instance the father-in-law, or prohibit the use of household facilities on the days women and girls menstruate.”

 

Many reports in the recent past have revealed stories about women getting abused and raped while having gone out to relieve themselves in the open. Thankfully, with the ‘Swacch Bharat Abhyan’ coming in full force, the government has promised to build public toilets for people all over the country. Television advertisements featuring Indian actress Vidya Balan can be seen frequently and hopefully will bring a positive change in the coming years.

 

 

 

United Nations Women in India Swacch Bharat Abhyaan World Toilet Day
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