Toilets are something most people never think twice about — until they don’t have one. But here’s the twist: in several regions, people were attacked while simply trying to use the toilet, and the deeper you dig, the clearer it becomes that the global sanitation crisis is far more dangerous than most imagine.
Before revealing why these attacks happen and what the world is missing, let’s rewind to where toilets began.
Who Invented the Toilet? The Mystery Goes Back Thousands of Years
It’s unclear who first invented the toilet. Early contenders include an ancient settlement in Scotland dating back to 3000 B.C. and a palace on Crete built around 1700 B.C.
This early innovation should have set humanity up for complete sanitation safety… but fast forward to today, and the picture looks shockingly different.
The Modern World Still Lacks Toilets — And the Numbers Are Staggering
Around 60% of the world – 4.5 billion people – don’t have a toilet that safely manages human waste at home.
Why does this matter so much? What actually happens when toilets are missing?
Toilets Save Lives — Literally
Without toilets, deadly diseases spread rapidly. Over 750 children under five die every day from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water, sanitation, and poor hygiene.
Think about that. A basic toilet could prevent hundreds of deaths every single day.
But the crisis doesn’t stop there.
Would You Show Up if Your School Had No Toilets?
Globally, 1 in 3 schools do not have adequate toilets, and 23% have none at all.
Imagine studying all day with nowhere to go — or worse, having to walk far distances and risk harassment or assault, which is why many children skip school entirely.
And for girls, the impact is even more severe.
Girls Lose Education When Toilets Are Missing
Without proper sanitation facilities, many girls are forced to miss school during their periods.
A simple toilet becomes the difference between daily attendance and missing crucial learning time.
And yet, despite this impact, inadequate sanitation remains one of the most under-discussed global issues.
Toilets Are Not Just a Necessity — They’re an Investment
According to WHO research, every dollar spent on sanitation returns US$5.50.
Better toilets mean healthier families, fewer diseases, more school attendance, and stronger economies.
So why is progress still so slow?
The Harsh Reality: 892 Million People Still Practise Open Defecation
That means nearly 900 million people go outside — on roadsides, bushes, or rubbish heaps — because they have no other option.
And here’s a critical detail:
90% of the people who practice open defecation live in rural areas.
This is where the risk of attacks, especially on women and children, increases dramatically — because going to the toilet often means going somewhere isolated and unsafe.
It’s Time to Make a Stink!
To get everyone in the world using toilets, current sanitation efforts need to triple.
That means:
- Building more toilets
- Ensuring they’re safe
- Making people want to use them
- Educating families and communities
- Protecting vulnerable populations, especially women
Everyone deserves dignity, safety, and health — and it all starts with something as basic as a toilet.
