World Toilet Day…at first glance this may seem like a joke or a silly holiday. But the day is far more serious and entertaining than it seems. It aims to raise awareness about sanitation issues worldwide and to work towards solving them.

One in three people around the world, or 2.5 billion people, don’t have regular access toilets, despite sanitation being a fundamental human right. Even among those with such access, unsafe and unclean toilets can pose problems. They can also contribute to the spread of diseases like diarrhea, cholera and typhoid. In some areas of Africa, this is the leading cause of death for children.

The number of sexual assaults on children and women is rising due to open defecation. Young girls who begin to menstruate as young women are forced to avoid school because they don’t have privacy. This reduces their chances of getting a basic education, and then, hopefully, a decent job. The ultimate goal of World Toilet Day is to make it possible for everyone to meet their basic needs, without fearing for their safety.

The World Toilet Organization created World Toilet Day in 2001. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations stated: “We have a moral obligation to end open defecation. We also have a duty not to place women and girls at risk for assault and rape because they do not have a sanitation facility.”

He continued to discuss how open defecation is a violation of human dignity and safety, and how girls and women are at risk of rape and abuse if they wait until the night falls to use a private toilet. Toilets are often not adequate for people with special needs such as the elderly and disabled.

World Toilet Day, which was established in 1991, has been a catalyst for urging governments, businesses, and other groups to take action. It also works to break down taboos around the topic to encourage discussion and create safer, better solutions.

It’s clear that World Toilet Day does not make fun of toilets. Instead, it focuses on protecting one of the most fundamental human rights. How can you help? There are many things you can do. You can start by visiting the World Toilet Day Facebook page, Twitter account, or Facebook page and sharing the message on social media.

Although it may seem small and insignificant, raising awareness about serious issues is something social media excels at. As the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge demonstrated, the more people who know about a problem, it is possible to raise more money to combat it. Don’t assume that clicking “share” is a sign of anything. It doesn’t.

You could also observe World Toilet Day by making a donation. If you have the funds, you can know that every dollar counts.