1 in 3 women worldwide don't have access to a toilet (that is 2.4billion people!) and are forced to go out in the open, which exposes them to shame, risk of attack, the spread of disease and rape.
This means there are more than 800 million women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 years old are menstruating who don't have a toilet to use. This affects so many other areas of their lives…...It forces women and girls to miss six days a month from school and work which makes them fall behind and prevents them from supporting their families.
These women benefit in so many ways by having a clean, safe toilet to use - it improves their confidence, nutrition, productivity, gender equality and tackles poverty. To help end this sanitation crisis UNICEF and Domestos have partnered and are committed to help 25 million people have a access to a toilet by 2020.
All readers have to do is buy a specially marked bottle of Domestos from July to December 2016 where each bottle contributes directly to the sanitation crisis. More information here http://www.domestos.com.au/article/category/990542/our-mission
To help bring this issue to life Domestos and UNICEF recently put a -see through loo' at Bondi Beach to see how people would feel about having to go to the toilet in the open on YouTube.
Question: Can you talk about the dangers associated with 1 in 3 women worldwide not having access to a toilet?
Felicity Wever: Toilets are vital in empowering girls and women in particular. Good sanitation reduces the spread of disease and improves education outcomes.
When there aren't proper systems in place for people to have access to clean water and good sanitation, their health can suffer and disease can spread.
For girls and women in particular this is an extra challenge because they are the ones who take the lead on taking care of their families. A lack of access to a toilet means they do not have somewhere safe and private to go to the toilet so they risk embarrassing situations, harassment and violence. It also means that young women may choose not to go to school when they are menstruating. Missing school once every four weeks has a real impact on their education and their futures. Ensuring girls can stay in school means they can keep learning and break cycles of inequality and poverty.
Question: How has Domestos partnered with UNICEF to end this sanitation crisis?
Felicity Wever: Domestos is supporting UNICEF water, health and sanitation programs in 20 countries to help change attitudes, provide access to good sanitation to ultimately ensure women and their communities can be healthy and thrive. Australians can support by buying a specially marked bottle of Domestos from which a portion goes to tackling the sanitation crisis.
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