IWD: Scotland and Period Poverty

International Women’s Day (8th of March) is a celebration of the ground-breaking social, economic, cultural and political achievements made for women and by women globally. It is also a painful reminder of the challenges women still face. Despite monumental progress, gender equality is still an ambitious prospect, and no country has achieved true gender equality to date. Moreover, women worldwide still face formidable human rights infringements including (but certainly not limited to) human trafficking, period poverty, gender-based violence, workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. These threats to women’s rights have been highlighted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who recently warned against complacency on women’s rights and called for the international community to renew its collective commitment to defending women’s rights from setbacks and resurgences of inequality, violence and discrimination. It is clear that, despite revolutionary progress, further measures that protect the rights of girls and women are required imminently to end default male thinking in the language of domestic law and UN resolutions.

However, this year’s International Women’s Day follows noteworthy news from Scotland – a bill that would make Scotland the first country in the world to offer free period products for all women has passed the first legislative hurdle. Period poverty is a pertinent, global human rights issue. It is not a challenge limited to the developing world: 1 in 10 girls in the UK cannot afford to purchase menstrual products. The phrase is defined to include the lack of access to safe and hygienic sanitary products and also encompasses a lack of menstrual hygiene education, of access to toilet and handwashing facilities and of effective waste management. Period poverty is therefore a salient public health issue. It also impacts children’s right to education. Research by Plan International UK has found that “49% of girls have missed an entire day of school because of their period, of which 59% have made up a lie or an alternate excuse.” Although there has been progress in Scotland, England and Wales, where free sanitary products are available in primary and secondary schools (as well as universities in Scotland), this is only the tip of the iceberg. The stigma that continues to surround periods also impacts on the wellbeing and success of children and adult women. Menstrual shame, stigma and taboo are reinforced when girls are told there is something wrong with them and their bodies when they have their periods, as opposed to treating it like the normal, healthy process it is. The lack of access to appropriate sanitary products and menstrual education in combination with the taboo of menstruation puts girls and women at “increased risk of dropping out of education, reducing their future employment opportunities and leaves them vulnerable to child marriage and early pregnancy.” Therefore, tackling period poverty requires action beyond that of international charities, homeless shelters, local charities, schools and food banks.

The Scottish bill, known as the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill (or the ‘Period Products Bill’ for short), would require the Scottish government to take policy measures to make period products free and accessible for those in need. success would be a step in the fulfilment of the rights of girls and women and would allow those suffering from period poverty to participate in education, work and society without having to choose between non-attendance or shame and having to improvise makeshift period products. Although the bill will face a number of amendments to make it financially feasible and effective for implementation, it is a significant step forward for women’s rights in a time of resounding backlash and setbacks.

Scotland’s ambitious leap forward for women’s rights has made one thing clear: women’s rights are human rights. The gendered, prevailing idea that women’s rights and human rights are distinctive categories is an antiquated one – and it is time to integrate women’s historical achievements, stories and landmark accomplishments into legal, economic, social and political narratives. Combatting issues like period poverty will facilitate the empowerment of women and further enable them to reach their full potential. As opposed to formally celebrating women once a year, the world must renew its commitment to true gender equality, refocus the lens to centre upon women’s experiences and reinforce the drive for equality for all women.