On Tuesday, the Scottish Parliament unanimously agreed to provide free menstrual aids to all women who request it. They are responding to an issue that is still taboo in many countries – that there are women who cannot afford hygiene aids.
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“I am proud to have voted in favor of this revolutionary legislation,” tweeted Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Prime Minister. She added that it is a very important step for women and girls.
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Proud to vote for this groundbreaking legislation, making Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products for all who need them. An important policy for women and girls. Well done to @ MonicaLennon7 @ClydesdAileen and all who worked to make it happen https://t.co/4lckZ4ZYIY
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) November 24, 2020
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Scotland is generally a major pioneer of menstrual issues. Two years ago, they started offering pads and tampons to students for free. Wales and England also joined. From now on, however, these products should be free everywhere in Scotland. In practice, it should look like they should be available in all public buildings, for example.
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Labor legislation Monica Lennon is behind the legislation. He has been lobbying for the topic since 2016. According to the British BBC Lennon argued that now was the best time: “The period will not stop because of the pandemic, the effort to improve access to tampons, pads and other means has never been more important.”
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Scottish politicians mention the term “period poverty”. What is it? Simply a phenomenon where women cannot afford adequate menstrual aids due to their low income. On average, they need at least 8 pounds a month (about 230 crowns), which is problematic for part of the population, according to BBC data. According to the data he quotes The Guardian, it is even 13 pounds a month (380 crowns).
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According to a survey conducted in Young Scot, about 10% of women surveyed did not have the money to buy menstrual aids, 15% had problems with it and 19% prefer to buy products that do not suit them because they are cheaper. Even half of the students surveyed admitted that when they have a period, they do not go to school.
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Scotland already has a similar policy regarding the distribution of condoms. On request, people can get them in pharmacies, doctor’s offices or schools. They can even fill out a card without having to say their request out loud.
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This is certainly not the Scottish Government’s first step in tackling menstrual poverty. She had previously set up a charity fund to distribute menstrual funds to slums. The BBC points out that it is customary there for these funds to be available free of charge in restaurants, pubs or cafés, at the discretion of the owners.
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They are fighting menstrual poverty elsewhere in the world, for example by reducing the tax on pads and tampons. The Tesco chain in the United Kingdom has reduced all these funds by 5% across the board. The “tampon tax” operates, for example, in Germany, Nicaragua, Australia, Canada, India, Nigeria or Uganda. New Zealand has introduced a similar practice as Scotland, meaning that menstrual aids are free in schools.
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Scotland will be the first country in the world to pay for all women menstrual aids. They want to break down this stigma and fight poverty. Journalists ask me if such a thing would be possible in our country as well. For the weakest, for sure. I asked @alenaschillerovto find a solution.
– Andrej Babis (@AndrejBabis) November 25, 2020
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In the Czech Republic, none of these steps are officially planned yet. However, according to the status on Twitter, the Prime Minister Andrej Babiš at least attracted the attention of Scottish deputies.
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