Is Access to a Toilet a Human Right?

Around 30% of the world's population does not have access to a decent toilet. Besides the health dangers to all, this means that more than 1.1 billion women and children around the world face additional risks associated with a lack of proper sanitation, including harassment and barriers to attending school. This is according to the non-governmental organization WaterAid, which released a report on "The State of the World's Toilets" in 2017. The group found that the 10 countries with the most limited access to basic sanitation are all located in sub-Saharan Africa, with Ethiopia having the highest percentage of its population living without proper toilets. Despite recent improvements, only 7% of Ethiopians have access to suitable bathroom facilities.

Flush with information:

• More people around the world have access to cell phones than to toilets.
• There are 355 million women and girls in India who do not have access to a safe, basic toilet.
• The original patent for toilet paper from 1891 shows it being rolled over, rather than under, the paper tube.