The 2017 Toilet Summit was about action and awareness raising. Speakers shared about progressive municipal waste strategies, innovative new technologies, targeted actions, and equitable and accessible facilities. The primary focus of the summit was to present a sobering challenge to the world that while developed countries take the availability of potable water, safe sanitation and hygiene for granted, a vast many in the world do without, to include open defecation and personal safety.

Presentations shed light on how this imbalance disproportionately affects girls and women, and the communities in which they live. It was also emphasized that the global cost of treatment of the resulting diseases and economic losses exceeds the cost of prevention. The sanitation challenges we face reflect the fact that toilets and bodily functions are a taboo topic that do not get much mention let alone crucial action or support.

Participants dissected the issues and shared about strategies and existing initiatives to respond to the crisis. The event was an example of dedicated people on the global stage coming together to confront an otherwise taboo topic with forthrightness and resolve.

This exceptional event motivated participants to help disassemble taboos, and raise awareness on behalf of the need for safe sanitation, hygiene and clean water for those who do without.

World Toilet Summit Melbourne 20-21 Nov

World Toilet Organization will be hosting the 16th World Toilet Summit in Melbourne, Australia on 20 & 21 of November 2017. The conference is a platform for international dialogue to urge progress on SDG#6 through partnerships. Case studies in effective behavioral change, approaches to sanitation issues in crisis zones and inter-linkages of SDGs will be presented at the over the 2 day conference and welcome reception event.

The conference is co-hosted by the Australian Water Association and supported by Melbourne City. Global Sponsors: RB, Kimberly-Clark and Global Citizen.

Program:
Full program is attached.

Registrations:
For SuSanA members that are Not-For-Profit, a subsidized registration rate is available via this link: www.eiseverywhere.com/wts17?categoryid=2168264

Event Information:
For information on Exhibitions and Sponsorship please visit the event website: www.awa.asn.au/AWA_MBRR/Events_Content/W...let_Summit_2017.aspx

On behalf of World Toilet Organization, thank you for joining the dialogue to meet sanitation for all.

Nasha Pestonji
Partnerships Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.