World Toilet Association Acquires Special Consultative Status with UN Economic and Social Council

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young]The World Toilet Association (WTA), a non-profit organization chaired by Suwon Mayor Yom Tae-young, acquired Special Consultative Status from the UN Economic and Social Council on the 24th, having its expertise in the toilet sector related to health and sanitation recognized.

The UN Economic and Social Council grants consultative status to NGOs with special capabilities to strengthen cooperation with NGOs worldwide. Eligible organizations are recommended by the NGO Committee, a standing committee of the UN Economic and Social Council, and decisions are made after review.

Consultative status is divided into Special Consultative Status, General Consultative Status, and Roster Consultative Status. The Special Consultative Status acquired by WTA is granted to NGOs with expertise in fields of UN Economic and Social Council activities such as health, sanitation, and human rights.

WTA applied for consultative status to the NGO Committee in May last year, and the NGO Committee decided to recommend WTA as a target organization after review. The UN Economic and Social Council held a plenary meeting in New York on the 24th and gave final approval to WTA as a Special Consultative Status NGO.

With this decision, WTA will be able to participate in meetings and events hosted or organized by the UN and present its views in writing and orally. It has also acquired the authority to form international networks and conduct lobbying activities.

Chairman Yom Tae-young said, "WTA has now established a status befitting an international organization in the health and sanitation sector," and added, "Using the acquisition of UN status as a stepping stone, we will expand cooperative projects with governments and organizations of each country and spread the toilet culture movement worldwide."

Established in 2007 on the proposal of the late former Suwon Mayor Shim Jae-deok, WTA aims to raise the health and sanitation standards of people worldwide through clean toilets and is carrying out the Hope Toilet Project, which builds public toilets in developing countries with insufficient toilet facilities and poor sanitation environments.

As of last year, WTA has built 33 public toilets in 16 countries including Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Mongolia, and Cambodia. It has also held six World Toilet Leaders Forums and six International Toilet Culture Conferences to share best practices related to toilets and explore directions for development.