Right to free period products becomes law in Scotland

Scotland – Labor MP Monica Lennon campaigned for the legislation, which was unanimously supported by the Scottish Parliament in 2020. And since 2017, about £27 million has been spent on providing access to hygiene items in public places.

Scotland is the first country in the world to protect the right to free hygiene products with new legislation that came into effect on Monday.

The Period Products Act means that councils and educational institutions must provide free hygiene products.

Ms. Lennon said: “As the cost-of-living crisis takes hold, the Period Products Act is a beacon of hope which shows what can be achieved when politicians come together for the good of the people we serve.”

Hey Girls, a social enterprise working on menstruation finance in the UK, said period products should be as affordable as a toilet roll in public restrooms.

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Scottish Social Justice Minister Shona Robison said she is proud that they are the first national government in the world to take such action and provide access to the hygiene products women need during their periods. “This is more important than ever at a time when people are making difficult choices due to the cost of living crisis,” she added, “We never want anyone to be in a position where they cannot access period products.”

Often in society, this topic is considered taboo. Girls are not told what is it and what they need to do. Often, when they get their period, they rely on friends and family to get these products.

Georgie Nicholson said that before the pandemic, the organization conducted a study that showed that one in four women in Scotland at some point faced financial problems during the period.

“There’s a very simple way to describe period poverty: you go to the supermarket and you have to actually choose whether you can buy a bag of pasta or a box of tampons. It’s that basic,” she said.