Strengthening Gender Responsive Urban Sanitation: Public and Community Toilets in Bangladesh

Abstract

In 2021 Practical Action conducted in-depth qualitative research to understand the experiences and priorities of women and men with regard to sanitation in low-income settlements in Faridpur and Meherpur, Bangladesh. Presently, public and community toilets in these two cities are failing to meet the needs of women and girls. Failings encompass toilet design, position, facilities, maintenance, and management. The widespread attitudes and behaviours of men and boys towards women and girls accessing and using public and community toilets constitute harassment and intimidation and need to be urgently addressed. While women’s engagement in sanitation governance is supported by policy commitments, in practice, presently women’s voices on municipal committees are ignored and muted.