Context:

The WHO-UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) released a report titled “Progress on Household Drinking Water and Sanitation 2000–2024: Special Focus on Inequalities” during World Water Week (August 24–28, 2025). It revealed that open defecation in low-income countries remains higher than the global average, posing a serious threat to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) by 2030.

Key Findings of the Report:

1.       Open Defecation:

o    Still prevalent in low-income countries, with rates 4x higher than the global average.

o    Only income group not on track to eliminate the practice by 2030.

2.      Progress in Sanitation:

o    Global access to safely managed sanitation rose from 48% (2015) to 58% (2024).

o    1.2 billion people gained access to hygienic toilets during this period.

3.      Drinking Water Access:

o    Global coverage increased from 68% to 74% between 2015 and 2024.

o    Rural access improved from 50% to 60%, while urban access stagnated at 83%.

4.     WASH Inequities:

o    Stark disparities persist across:

§  Urban-rural divide

§  Income groups

§  Ethnic minorities and indigenous populations

§  People with disabilities

o    Women and girls disproportionately bear the burden of water collection.

5.     Menstrual Health:

o    Survey across 70 countries revealed continued menstrual hygiene challenges across all income levels.

6.     Scale of Action Required:

o    Low-income countries need:

§  7-fold increase in water access.

§  18-fold increase in sanitation and hygiene services.

o    Lower-middle-income countries need to double current progress rates.

Implications:

1.       Public Health Risks:

o    Open defecation contributes to water contamination, diarrheal diseases, and child mortality.

o    Affects overall nutritional and health outcomes in vulnerable populations.

2.      Violation of Human Rights:

o    Access to water and sanitation is recognized as a basic human right by the UN.

o    Continued disparities reinforce structural inequality and social exclusion.

3.      Gender and Educational Impact:

o    Lack of toilets and menstrual hygiene facilities affects school attendance among girls.

o    Burden of water collection on women limits their education and employment opportunities.

4.     SDG Setbacks:

o    Failure to eliminate open defecation undermines SDG 6, and affects progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Conclusion:

The report underscores that while global gains in water and sanitation have been commendable, inequity remains a serious obstacle. The pace of change is insufficient, especially in low-income and marginalized regions.

To achieve universal WASH coverage by 2030, nations must:

• Prioritize vulnerable populations in policy and funding.
• Strengthen local-level data collection to capture needs of excluded communities.
• Scale up investment in sanitation infrastructure, behavior change programs, and community-led total sanitation (CLTS) initiatives.