Scotlands fight against the „Period Poverty“ is a global fight

A new law points the right way, but now has to be implemented consistently.

Sanitary towels, tampons and other menstrual products will be free of charge for all women in Scotland in the near future. The parliament in Edinburgh has approved a draft bill on Tuesday. This makes Scotland the first country worldwide to provide sanitary products regarding the menstrual cycle to women. Among the countries in Great Britain, Scotland is well-known as a fighter against the so-called „Period Poverty“. With the new law the country sets an example, where one can only hope that other countries all over the globe will acknowledge Scotland as a role model in this matter and follow its path. The scottish government will claim schools, universities and other public institutions to provide personal care products on their public toilets.

This is particularly advantageous for women and girls who just can’t afford the menstrual products. According to a 2017 study by the children’s aid organization „Plan International“, around 10% of girls in Great Britain could not afford them. What is important now, is that those plans will not simply remain mere plans but be translated into actions. We all have that picture of a public toilet in our head that ran out of toilet paper and soap a long time ago. So the government has to make sure this won’t happen to the much needed menstrual products. Otherwise this law won’t help but miss its target and humiliate even more those who depend on those products.