In India, safe sanitation facilities reduce threats of violence against girls

In-home sanitation = Safety for women "I was only going to open defecate in the nights and had lots of threats, now I am protected from dangerous illness and life threat." — Mrs. M Sunitha, beneficiary International Day of the Girl takes place in October. It is a day when advocates for women’s rights come together to celebrate the power of girls, and put into action plans and programs to protect their health, safety and potential. This year, we’re marking this day by drawing attention to a project in India, supported by gifts made through the Giving Catalog, that is working to safeguard a basic human need many of us take for granted: access to safe and private spaces to relieve ourselves. More than 300 million women and girls in India don’t have bathrooms in their homes. This isn’t just inconvenient, it’s dangerous. Statistically, the threat of sexual violence against these women drastically increases when they leave the safety of their home to relieve themselves in an open defecation site. To help, Bharati Integrated Rural Development Society (BIRDS), in partnership with the Presbyterian Hunger Program, has been working to install toilets and washrooms in homes, providing a safer and healthier sanitation alternative for Indian women. Read on to learn how this good work is making a big difference, and creating a better way to satisfy these most basic needs. Photo courtesy of BIRDS Read More

Latrine In many countries, rural areas lack access to basic sanitation. For women in particular, latrines promote dignity and safety, minimizing the risk of assault when they venture out alone in search of privacy. Latrines also improve hygiene and health for whole communities, reducing the risk of disease two-fold over even supplying clean water. Give Now

WASH Aid Access to WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) can significantly improve health, life expectancy and socio-economic development. Help support international relief efforts that provide the education and supplies critical in controlling the spread of infection and disease. Give Now

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