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Every day millions of person world-wide have their periods. However, only a little part of them has enough money to pay for hygiene items plus the VAT taxes and don't feel jugged during their period.
The 28th May is the International Day of Hygiene and Menstruation and women around the world are talking and acting to end the period poverty. Period poverty is the situation when a woman or girl can't afford to have pads, because they are sold as a luxury good (in Italy the pad is taxed 22% of VAT).
"Globally, 2.3 billion people live without basic sanitation services and in developing countries, only 27% of people have adequate handwashing facilities at home, according to UNICEF. Not being able to use these facilities makes it harder for women and young girls to manage their periods safely and with dignity"(The Global Citizens).
More over, there are lots of homeless people, and homeless women all over the world that are struggling the most. The international movement Period.org is finding ways how to help everyone and everywhere. Even if the developed countries, like Belgium and elsewhere they are giving free sanitary products for homeless women. They offer the possibility for organizations and also individual people to join and to contribute. Because everywhere, even in rich countries, there is an inequality to access and not everyone can afford paying for the basic needs.
For this reason, to eliminate inequality, on November 2020 Scotland became the first in the world to make period products free for everyone. According to Plan International UK, "10% of girls in the UK have been unable to afford period products; 15% have struggled to afford them; and 19% have changed to a less suitable product due to cost" (BBC).
Meeting the hygiene needs of all adolescent girls is a fundamental issue of human rights, dignity, and public health. - Sanjay Wijesekera, former UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Unfortunately, the problem is not only about money but also about cultural beliefs. As said before, around the world the topic of menstruation continues to be a taboo, and the cultural understanding leads to "ostracized [women and girls] from basic activities, like eating certain foods, or socializing" (The Global Citizens). For example, in Nepal women and young girls in their periods are seen as "impure" and are segregated during their period in huts, even though it's illegal according to the Nepalese law. Or, in Uganda, based by the non-governmental agency WoMena, many girls skip school during their period to avoid teasing from their classmates. But this is true in many developing countries too.
To understand better how some girls feel about periods in India and how this could also bring jobs, income, personal dignity and empowerment of women, watch the documentary bellow (of only 25 minutes) that won an Oscar.
If after having watched this documentary you are interested to contribute and to help women and girls who struggle with period poverty you can donate or help in these organizations:
Also, if you want to educate yourself more on this topic, here are some websites and books you can read:
However, the period difficulties can be experienced all across, even nearby. This year at our school the CS Presidents (2020-2021) have introduced a project to help each other among girls. Here is a short presentation of the project by Blanka.
- What is this project and what inspired you to introduce it at school?
Most people start menstruating while they are in secondary school, and many of us believe that the support offered by the school (period products at the nurse's and in Ms Amic's office) is simply not enough. Menstruation can make our days more difficult, so it's right that we should help each other through it as much as we can. That's why we decided to make available period products in the girls' bathrooms.
- How it works? (For those who want to use it and want to help)
Since we haven't (yet) received funding from the school, right now all of our products come from donations. We encourage everyone that can to bring in somethings! The products are then put into various containers, and placed in several girls' bathrooms. This is all done by us students, and since many of us are leaving this year, it would be great if we found some people who are willing to take our places and help out in the years to come!
Photos of some period products that you can find at school.
It’s simple, women and girls have human rights, and they have periods. One should not defeat the other. - Hannah Neumeyer, head of human rights at WASH United
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