In many parts of the world, including urban areas, there are disparities in toilet access based on income level, gender, and location. The availability of proper toilet facilities is closely interlinked with menstrual hygiene management (MHM), girls' education and women's productivity. Inadequate school toilets pose a significant challenge for adolescent girls, who often miss school once they start menstruating. Studies suggest that approximately 30% of girls miss school for 2.5 days per month during their period affecting their academic performance and contributing to dropout rates². Similarly, working women lose up to six working days annually caused of the lack of adequate toilet facilities in workplaces. These facts collectively entail a substantial impact on a country’s GDP for which is termed as “Period Poverty” by economists.

In Bangladesh, notable progress has been made in sanitation domains. that the prevalence of open defecation in Bangladesh has drastically reduced from 34% in 1990 to just 0% in 2017. Innovations such as community-led total sanitation (CLTS) have been instrumental in mobilising communities and contributing to successfully ending open defecation. This achievement is a result of concerted efforts by the government, NGOs, and community-driven sanitation programs. The Government of Bangladesh has also implemented initiatives such as formulating the National Sanitation Strategy (NSS) to accelerate progress towards achieving universal access to sanitation. Despite the fundamental importance of toilets in daily life, discussions about their usage, management, and integration of technological advancements often cause discomfort, hindering progress. This reluctance pulls back progress in improving toilet facilities, a critical piece of the puzzle for public health and social development. Making toilet infrastructures time-befitting and embracing technological innovations can significantly elevate the quality of life and reflect a society's commitment to civic responsibility.

This conference will be instrumental for the Government representatives from global south to present its sanitation best practices, relevant policy objectives, and development plans to a mix of critical stakeholders including a global audience. Furthermore, it will position the Government at the center stage, showcasing how national priorities are integrating sanitation aspects into broader development goals.

With the theme- “The Future of Sanitation”, Toilet Conference 2025 aims to spotlight these challenges and catalyse innovative solutions by bringing industry experts, academia, policymakers, development partners, and researchers under one umbrella. The conference will be an opportune moment for global south to showcase its remarkable strides in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) over the years. It will serve as a platform to showcase bothlocal and cross-country innovations, foster partnerships, mobilise investments and exploredigital solutions for advancing the sanitation agenda towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

^1. Personal Hygine Is The  Key To Public Health: ICMR
^2.National Hygiene Survey 2018