Ensuring equitable access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities is fundamental for promoting public health, dignity, and gender equality worldwide. Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene not only improves individual well-being but also contributes to community development and economic prosperity. However, disparities in access to WASH facilities persist, particularly affecting marginalized groups and non-male genders.
The purpose of the action recommendations outlined in this letter is to enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and safety of public WASH facilities globally. By advocating for infrastructure enhancements, awareness programs, community engagement initiatives, maintenance and cleanliness improvements, enhanced security measures, and improved lighting and visibility, we aim to create environments that cater to the diverse needs of all individuals, ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing essential WASH services.

Tackling menstrual poverty and promoting menstrual health in the Balkans is particularly important as disparities in access to modern gynaecology, contraception and clean water exacerbate the challenges women and girls face in managing their periods. Unlike countries in Central Europe, countries in the Balkans, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia, struggle with limited access to quality health facilities and modern reproductive health services. Rural areas in the Balkans often face difficulties in accessing clean water, and health facilities are burdened by perspectives on women's sexual and reproductive health that promote gender inequality. These factors contribute to inequalities in women's health and highlight the urgent need for comprehensive education, awareness campaigns and policy changes to effectively address reproductive poverty in the Balkan region.