Singapore is one of only three surviving city-states in the world, alongside Monaco and Vatican City, making it a unique island-nation to discover. In a fascinating location like this, we’re always on the hunt to uncover lesser-known facts that make Singapore stand out globally. Famous for its impeccable cleanliness and impressive urban infrastructure, the island is recognised for the world’s fastest walkers, holding quirky titles like the world’s largest cupcake mosaic, and strict laws such as fines for not flushing public toilets. Speaking of toilets, did you know World Toilet Day was founded in Singapore in 2001?
History of World Toilet Day
Representatives from Singapore pioneered the global initiative of World Toilet Day to promote global sanitation awareness. Eventually, this idea was supported by 122 countries globally and became a yearly United Nations observance in 2013 which is held in November each year.
This initiative was led by Jack Sim, a Singaporean philanthropist known as ”Mr. Toilet”, who established the World Toilet Day Organisation in 2001. Following this, he helped declare November 19 as World Toilet Day. In fact, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed the resolution, by Sim and his team, to formally recognise World Toilet Day as an official United Nations observance in 2013. The resolution highlighted the need for collective action to address inadequate sanitation and stop open defecation which affected billions of people around the world.
Singapore’s World Toilet Day resolution at the United Nations General Assembly in 2013, titled ”Sanitation for All”, was co-sponsored by more than 100 countries. It urged governments, organisations, and communities to work together to prioritise sanitation and hygiene improvements which impacts health, gender equality, and the environment. Certainly, this reflects Singapore’s dedication to improving public health and a longstanding commitment to sanitation reform.
Today, Singapore has led the way for progress towards safer toilets and continues to champion this cause through educational campaigns, international partnerships, and events that promote awareness of sanitation challenges. Additionally, Sim’s WTO is still relentless raising awareness for this movement. Get the full details on WTO.
No wonder we get fined for not flushing the toilet in public, we can’t let ourselves down to the tourists.
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