By Liesl Frankson

The theme for World Toilet Day 2014 is Equality and Dignity, and this year the organisers aim to highlight the link between gender-based violence and sanitation.

The United Nations General Assembly, in 2013, designated 19 November as World Toilet Day. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has described the goal for World Toilet Day as an effort to improve the health and well-being of one third of the human family, by working together and having an open and frank discussion on the importance of toilets and sanitation.

According to UN-Water, the UN’s inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater and sanitation related matters, this year’s campaign will inspire action to end open defecation and put the spotlight on how access to improved sanitation leads to a reduction in assault and violence on women and girls.

In a document describing this year’s theme the agency notes that while poor access to toilets is not the cause of violence against women, it can increase a woman’s vulnerability to violence.

“Consider a woman without access to a toilet in her home. When travelling to and from public toilets, using the toilet, or venturing from her home to defecate openly, she is vulnerable to violence. This vulnerability is becoming increasingly recognised and described.”

The document further points out that reports of attacks or harassment near or in toilet facilities, as well as near or in areas where women defecate openly, are not uncommon.

“Universal access to safe toilets has a clear role to play in defending women’s safety and dignity. With access to a toilet, women no longer have to defecate in the open where they feel ashamed, and vulnerable to predators when having to expose themselves publicly.”

Often, where toilets do exist, they are generally inadequate for the disabled, the elderly and women and girls requiring facilities to manage menstrual hygiene. Without accessible toilets for these populations, they remain excluded from opportunities to attend school and gain employment.

During his speech last year, the UN secretary-General pointed out that schools that provide decent toilets showed an 11% increase in the attendance of girls.