The WTO is also the organizer of the World Toilet Summit, The Urgent Run and initiated the United Nations World Toilet Day. WTO empowers individuals through education, training and building local marketplace opportunities to advocate for clean and safe sanitation facilities in their communities.

WTO continues to provide an international platform for toilet associations, governments, academic institutions, foundations, UN agencies and corporate stakeholders to exchange knowledge and leverage media and corporate support in an effort to promote clean sanitation and public health policies.

It is a pioneer organization on the sanitation agenda globally. In 2013, the United Nations adopted its founding day, 19 November, as the official UN World Toilet Day. However It is not the agency of the United Nations.

World Toilet Organization was granted consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2013. Sustainable Development Goal #6 calls for universal access to adequate and equitable sanitation and the end of open defecation by 2030.