Scotland has become the only state in the world to ensure free of cost and universal access to period products.
Women will get menstrual products, including pads and tampons, for free. Local authorities and education providers will be responsible for ensuring menstrual products’ free availability in all the public buildings, including educational institutions across Scotland. The Period Products bill was passed in the parliament on Tuesday and earned unanimous support. The successful approval of the bill is a landmark victory in the fight against period poverty.
The government ordered local authorities to make more councils like North Ayrshire, providing free tampons and sanitary towels since 2018.
“This is a proud day for Scotland,” said Monica Lennon, the lady who spearheaded the campaign. “This indeed will create a huge difference and will help every girl and woman who menstruates. Everyone should have a chance of period dignity, and I’m glad that our nation is stepping toward progress,” she further added.
A lot of change has been observed in the past few years. There was a time when talking about periods in public was considered a taboo, and now we are talking about it in the Holyrood chamber. MSP’s are having an open discussion on menopause, the type of products used for menstruation, endometrioses, and much more.
Period poverty campaign started four years ago, but it gained recognition and due attention during the pandemic.
People talked about the expenses they’ve to bear every month for buying essential sanitary products. On average, a woman has to spend 13 pounds a month and thousands of pounds a year on period products—one in every five women experiences period-poverty, which has an ill impact on their hygiene and health.
The Free-Period Products scheme is estimated to cost 8.7 million pounds annually.
“Scotland is setting an example for the rest of the world. I am so proud that we are witnessing this progress at a stage when the nation’s economy is suffering due to the pandemic. We have proved that women’s rights are greater than any political agenda,” said Lennon.