“Across the world, one in three women risk shame, disease, harassment and even attack because they have nowhere safe to go to the toilet,” Ann Jenkin, Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, Member of Parliament Annette Brooke, and Glenys Kinnock, Baronness Kinnock of Holyhead, write in the Huffington Post U.K.’s “Lifestyle” blog. “Facing each day without access to this basic necessity is not just an inconvenience; it impacts on all aspects of life, and it is women and girls who suffer the most,” they continue.

“Lack of decent sanitation also affects women’s productivity and livelihoods, impacting on their time and health,” according to the authors. “That is why, this World Toilet Day,” observed November 19, “we are joining international charity WaterAid in a calling for governments across the world to make good on their promises to provide the world’s poorest people with safe toilets and clean water.” They encourage readers to sign “WaterAid’s pledge that everyone should have somewhere safe to go to the toilet” (11/19).