The inaugural World Toilet Summit 2001 was held from 19–21 November 2001 at the Singapore Expo. Hosted by the Restrooms Association of Singapore, along with 16 other toilet associations,1 the purpose of the summit was to promote an in-depth discussion on global sanitation issues.2
The three-day summit attracted some 130 participants from more than 10 countries, including Australia, Japan, India and Taiwan.3 Activities included visits to the local toilet facilities such as those at the Singapore Zoo and Great World City. The issues covered during the plenary sessions were broad-based and ranged from sewerage treatment, water conservation and environment pollution, to public health and social graciousness.
The guest of honour for the Summit was the then Acting Environment Minister, Mr Lim Swee Say. Running concurrently with the Summit was the Restroom Asia 2001 Exhibition.4
In the 14 years since the World Toilet Summit was first held in Singapore, sanitation has become more of a priority in several countries. In 2013, the Government of Singapore and World Toilet Organization embarked on a joint initiative which eventually led to the establishment of World Toilet Day on 19 November as an official United Nations (UN) day.5
Author
Peter Pak
References
1. Restroom Association of Singapore. (n.d.). About RAS – Milestones. Retrieved 2006, Apr 12 from Restroom Association of Singapore website: http://www.toilet.org.sg/aboutus4.html
2. World Toilet Organization. (2016). World Toilet Day. Retrieved 2016, April 12, from World Toilet website: http://worldtoilet.org/what-we-do/world-toilet-day/
3. Kaur, K. (2001, November 25). Lord of the Loos. The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Kaur, K. (2001, November 25). Lord of the Loos. The Straits Times, p. 25. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. World Toilet Organization. (2016). World Toilet Day. Retrieved 2016, April 12, from World Toilet website: http://worldtoilet.org/what-we-do/world-toilet-day
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