第三卫生间(dìsān wèishēngjiān): 'Third' public toilets

A working meeting on the "toilet revolution", which was first advanced by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund with the aim of improving toilet facilities in developing countries, was held in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, recently. The meeting focused on promoting the construction of a "third" public toilet.

A "third" public toilet refers to a special toilet that can be used by family members of different genders when they go out. For instance, if a mother takes her son out and the little boy needs to go to the toilet, the mother cannot go into a male public toilet together with him even if the child finds it difficult to go to the toilet independently. In addition, it could also solve the difficulties that disabled persons and the elderly face when they need the help of others to go to the toilet.

Public toilet facilities not only relate to people's quality of life, but are also a significant symbol of the level of society. "Third" public toilets in developed countries accommodate to daily needs especially in scenic spots, transportation junctions and business centers with large flows of people, but there are few such facilities in China.

The China National Tourism Administration recently said all the 5A scenic spots in the country should be equipped "third" public toilets to meet the needs of tourists.

Besides the construction of "third" public toilets, the authorities should improve the management and maintenance of toilets and promote the general awareness of "third" public toilets. These toilets should be used by the targeted groups of people, rather than simply being occupied by others.