Messages 2025
UN-Water Chair's message
Sanitation systems save lives. That’s a fact.
But rising demand, climate change, and insufficient investment are pushing these fragile systems to breaking point.
Globally, 3.4 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation, and 354 million go to the toilet in the open.
Untreated human waste spreads diseases and pollutes the environment, undermining health, dignity and opportunity, especially for women and girls.
As the times become more turbulent, we need safe sanitation to build vital resilience, because no matter how much the world changes, our need for toilets never will.
Sanitation is essential for people, prosperity and the planet – making it a central priority in the United Nations’ work.
In recent decades, we have supported governments to ensure billions of people gained access to safe toilets – 1.2 billion people in the past ten years alone.
This shows what is possible when governments and the international community act together.
This World Toilet Day, we need to commit to much faster and greater progress.
We urgently need to invest in ‘future-ready’ sanitation that is accessible, climate-proof, low-emission, and fully-financed.
Let’s work together to make toilets fit for the future — now.
Alvaro Lario
As the times become more turbulent, we need safe sanitation to build vital resilience, because no matter how much the world changes, our need for toilets never will."
Alvaro Lario
Message from the Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Water
Happy World Toilet Day.
From time to time throughout human history, despite how much world has changed, the need for safely managed sanitation has always remained. Humans need safe sanitation, and in this case… toilets – to sustain their lives and livelihoods.
It is not something we can ever take for granted.
Unfortunately, even as global progress on access to safe sanitation continues to grow, billions of people still face daily challenges in accessing toilet. Women and girls are most affected with the absence of safe sanitation.
The pursuit to ensure sanitation for all is a collective fight for humanity’s future. We have seen time and again how the lack of access to safely managed sanitation leads to outbreaks of disease, environmental degradation, and even economic hardship.
Our changing world presents new challenges. Disasters, climate change, and prolonged humanitarian emergencies are among the present challenges that limits access to safe sanitation.
But beyond just challenges – the rapid changing world also offers new opportunities and solutions. Innovations and technologies can and must be harnessed to accelerate efforts in ensuring sanitation for all.
As we commemorate this year’s World Toilet Day, let us take a moment to reflect on the importance of safe sanitation and toilets in our lives. Let us also take part in the global efforts of ensuring safely managed sanitation for all.
Spread the world about the importance of toilets – talk about it with your friends and families, post it on social media, support government or community initiatives near you on building access to safe toilets, or contribute in any way you can.
Through those simple acts, we all will be part of a global movement that changes the world.
We’ll always need the toilet, and we are the change that the world’s sanitation needs.
Once again Happy World Toilet Day!
Retno L.P. Marsudi
Spread the world about the importance of toilets – talk about it with your friends and families, post it on social media, support government or community initiatives near you on building access to safe toilets, or contribute in any way you can. Through those simple acts, we all will be part of a global movement that changes the world."
Retno L.P. Marsudi
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' message
Adequate sanitation has a profound impact on people’s sense of dignity.
It is a human right in itself, as well as being indispensable for the enjoyment of numerous other human rights, such as the rights to health, life, education, work, adequate housing and safe water.
And yet, nearly half of the world’s population still lacks access to adequate sanitation. Women, girls and other people who menstruate are disproportionately affected, in part due to stigma and harmful stereotypes regarding menstruation.
Globally, 427 million children lack a basic sanitation service at their school, a fact that again particularly impacts girls’ access and attendance once they reach puberty.
Women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people face greater risks of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, when they have to walk long distances, especially after dark, or use inadequate sanitation facilities.
It is thus essential that sanitation facilities are located within, or in the immediate proximity, of each household, workplace, health and educational institution, and other public places.
We must do more, and better.
Universal access to sanitation for all means that the needs of those furthest behind must be prioritized, including persons with disabilities, slum dwellers, persons living rural areas, homeless people, among others.
The voice of marginalized and disadvantaged individuals and groups should be heard in decision-making processes related to management of sanitation infrastructure and services.
On this World Toilet Day, I urge accelerated action towards the elimination of inequalities in access to toilets and hygiene facilities and ensuring the enjoyment of the right to sanitation without discrimination.
The human rights framework applies at all times. The protection of civilian water and sanitation infrastructure is essential also in emergency or conflict situations.
Volker Türk
On this World Toilet Day, I urge accelerated action towards the elimination of inequalities in access to toilets and hygiene facilities and ensuring the enjoyment of the right to sanitation without discrimination. "
Volker Türk
Message from the Executive Director United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Sanitation in a Changing World is the theme of this year’s World Toilet Day and a stark reminder that while our world is impacted by rising climate risks, the need for safe sanitation never changes. Globally, the climate crisis risks rolling back hard-won progress on safely managed sanitation for millions of children, preventing them from living a life of health, dignity, and opportunity. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods and droughts can overwhelm sanitation systems, leaving communities vulnerable to diseases and struggling to maintain even basic sanitation services.
The good news is that we have solutions. As the co-founder and leader of the Climate Resilient Sanitation Coalition, UNICEF and key partners are working with Governments and communities around the world to accelerate progress on safe sanitation that can withstand climate shocks.
On this World Toilet Day, UNICEF is calling for stronger investment in climate-resilient sanitation — systems designed to endure extreme weather and environmental changes, while minimizing contributions to the climate crisis. Together, we can accelerate action so that every child, everywhere, has access to life-saving sanitation.
Catherine Russell
UNICEF is calling for stronger investment in climate-resilient sanitation — systems designed to endure extreme weather and environmental changes, while minimizing contributions to the climate crisis. Together, we can accelerate action so that every child, everywhere, has access to life-saving sanitation."
Catherine Russell
