SCOTLAND BECOMES WORLD’S FIRST COUNTRY TO PROVIDE FREE SANITARY PRODUCTS

Mon 15 August 2022:

The first nation in the world to offer free feminine hygiene products is Scotland, Anadolu Agency reported.

The Scottish Parliament approved the Period Products Act on Sunday evening, which would compel public entities to offer free period products to individuals who need them.

In 2018, the Scottish Labour party’s health spokeswoman, Monica Lennon, launched a nationwide campaign to provide free sanitary products.

Monica Lennon joins campaigners and activists during a rally outside the Scottish Parliament in support of the Scottish Governments Support For Period Products Bill .

“This will make a massive difference to the lives of women and girls and everyone who menstruates. There has already been great progress at a community level and through local authorities in giving everyone the chance of period dignity,” Lennon said in a statement.

“There has been a massive change in the way that periods are discussed in public life. A few years ago, there had never been an open discussion of menstruation in the Holyrood chamber, and now it is mainstream. MSPs (members of the Scottish Parliament) have enjoyed being a part of that, and it has encompassed the menopause, endometriosis, as well as the types of products we use and their sustainability,” she added.

The nationwide campaign was launched after a few local councils in the northern country had been providing their female residents with free period products.

The move by Lennon, however, received popular backing, and in 2020, the Scottish Parliament approved the motion to make such a provision a law with MSPs unanimously voting in support for it.

The law will have a significant effect on reducing “period poverty,” the inability to afford sanitary products, and help many women across the country who experienced period poverty during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

According to Women for Independence, a grassroots campaign group, approximately one in five women had experienced period poverty which had detrimental effects on their hygiene, health and well-being.

At present tampons, pads and some reusable products are funded in schools, colleges and universities in Scotland.

Since 2017, around £27m has been spent to provide access in public settings.

Free period products were rolled out in all primary and secondary schools in England in early 2020.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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