Singapore symposium flush with toilet talk

SINGAPORE (CNN) -- Two hundred delegates from all over the world are gathering in Singapore to discuss a topic that affects everyone at the world's first ever toilet talks.

The World Toilet Organization (the other WTO) will discuss restroom design, education, and sanitation during a two-day symposium in the Lion City under the theme "Our toilets: the past, the present and the future."

Singapore Restroom Association chairman Jack Sim told CNN that he hopes the gathering will help bring the taboo topic out of the proverbial water closet.

'Right to toilet'

"A lot of people think I'm telling a joke, but after a while they realize how serious it is," said Sim on CNN's Asia Business Morning.

"They are tolerating smell, dirt, and health problems. Ladies have to queue up to wait for their turn. They are realizing their lives are suffering a downgrade each time they are going to the toilet."

Conference delegates from the U.S., Britain, India, Japan and Taiwan will hear experts speak on "World Toilet Culture" and "Ventilation and Lighting Design for Green and Odorless Public Toilets."

Sim and his fellow toilet champions declared November 19 World Toilet Day to promote the "importance of good toilets around the world."

"People have the basic right to toilet," said Sim.

Women's rights

Sim took another look at women's rights to address the issue.

"It takes 90 seconds for them to do their business," said Sim. "For the gents, only 30 seconds. So (women) should have more toilet booths than the gents but the truth is the reverse."

From Tuesday, toilets of distinction will be on display at the four-day Restroom Asia trade fair at the Singapore Expo.

Singapore leads the world in toilet decorum, with fines for not flushing and plans for a $3.8 billion upgrade of sewage systems and public bathrooms.

Engineers from Mainland China are hoping to pick up a few pointers at the Singapore conference to prepare for the restroom requirements of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Toilet products represent a significant market opportunity for the construction sector. According to the WTO, sanitation equipment accounts for up to 12 percent of the total construction cost for residential projects, and between 5 to 7 percent for commercial projects.

Though an easy target for jokes, access to sanitation is no laughing issue. The World Health Organization says 40 percent of the world's population lacks proper toilet facilities.

The deficiency has led to surging health care costs, widespread disease and the deaths of 2 million people a year -- most of them children.

But Jack Sim is not taking the future of world waste sitting down.

"We hope is that all toilets -- public and private -- will be sufficient to give you the same quality of life as outside the toilet."