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The research approach of the has inspired the to begin an investigation into new ways of addressing women’s health from an urban perspective.

, Dean of the School of Nursing expressed her desire to reflect on the Commission’s cross-disciplinary approach, by securing the perspectives of researchers specialising in architecture and urban studies to talk at a recent conference in association with .

In June last year 19 students and academics from across »Ê¼Ò»ªÈËere involved in publishing the UCL Lancet Commission on Healthy Cities, led by , Professor of Planning, Environment and Public Policy at . The Commission discussed, among other issues, the role of urban planning in the creation of effective sanitation infrastructure.

, Senior Lecturer in Architectural History at was a contributing speaker at the conference in September, presenting a paper on the role of adequate sanitation to women’s health and safety. She notes that few social groups benefit more from improved sanitation than women.

The universal provision of clean, safe toilets in developing countries would ensure a significant increase in the avoidance of a number of medical problems, limit exposure to sexual violence and encourage young women to stay longer in education.

Dr Penner also stresses the importance of viewing the issue of sanitation as a question not just for the Global South, but also as vital to improving the lives of women in the Global North. This question, largely ignored in debates around public health and in discussions around how to create healthy cities, is one that benefits from cross-cultural examination, as it highlights the general attitude of ambivalence when it comes to the discussion of public amenities in the UK.


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