Sanitation is a Human Right

Sanitation is not an issue of privilege. It is not an optional upgrade to someone’s quality of life. It’s a human right. Haiti’s constitution declares that every citizen has the right to suitable housing. The United Nations agrees with this, stating that the lack of access to safe, sufficient, and affordable water and sanitation facilities devastates health, dignity, and prosperity, with far-reaching consequences for other human rights. 

And yet, despite widespread agreement that sanitation is fundamental, only 34% of urban Haitians have access to improved sanitation facilities. Without access to a toilet at home, millions of people are forced to find other, often unsafe, ways to meet this basic need. 

Every installation of an EkoLakay toilet is an affirmation that a better future is possible—not just for Haiti, but for communities around the world. Year after year, our team in Northern Haiti shows us what’s possible. Even when fuel prices spike or floods make neighborhood roads nearly impassable, our EkoLakay sanitation services are still delivered. 

Image

Urban populations living in slums in Haiti rose to 24% in 2018, and globally, more than 700 million people in urban areas lack access to sanitation. Haiti has the highest rate of childhood diarrheal disease in the world—a leading cause of disability and death among children. These illnesses place a heavy burden on communities, compounding economic and social strain on families already stretched thin. But we know that despite global wealth disparities, the tools and resources needed to ensure everyone can live a dignified life exist. 

Is it ambitious to say that safe sanitation can be available in all Haitian households in the near future? Yes. 

Is it impossible? No.

At SOIL, we know we can’t dismantle every barrier preventing people from accessing their basic rights overnight (though we wish we could). However, the benefits of investment in sanitation are transformative. According to the World Bank, every dollar spent on sanitation generates more than five dollars in economic and social returns. Beyond that, SOIL’s ecological sanitation and composting model is designed for scalability, offering a proven, practical solution to Haiti’s sanitation crisis. 

Image

Collaborative action is essential. We work closely with Haitian government stakeholders—including the departments of sanitation, public health, and agriculture—as well as local officials, mayors, and neighborhood representatives. These are the people who have a vested interest in seeing their grandchildren grow up in a Haiti where basic needs are met and childhood is not overshadowed by a lack of resources or opportunity. Together, we share a vision of a future where sanitation is not a privilege but a publicly funded right available to all.

Additionally, our impact goes beyond toilets. With over 250 metric tons of compost produced by SOIL annually, agriculture and climate resilience efforts are supported across Haiti. Healthier soil means healthier crops, which means more nutritious food for communities. SOIL’s work is a living testament to the possibility of addressing one human right’s challenge while creating solutions that ripple outward.

Our team demonstrates daily that even when systems seem broken beyond repair, ingenuity, persistence, and collaboration can create a path forward. Sanitation is a human right—and we are proud to stand with the other humans, who work tirelessly to make this right a reality for everyone.