Scotland: First in the World to Offer Free Menstrual Products
In Scotland, period products, such as sanitary pads and tampons, are now provided free of charge to those in need. Menstrual products will be accessible in pharmacies and community centers as of this week, as a result of legislation that the Scottish Parliament approved in 2020. In a statement, Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said, "Providing access to free period products is fundamental to equality and dignity, and removes the financial barriers to accessing them." She called the move "more important than ever" in an era where living expenses are on the rise. Successfully Combating ‘Period Poverty’ : Period poverty is the inability of people with low incomes to obtain or purchase appropriate period products. Evidence from evaluating certain bites : "We hear of a lot of mothers going without their period protection just so they can feed their children and using things such as newspaper stuffed into socks because they're cheaper than period products."The impact that access to period products can have on people who need them in terms of education and financial stability has come to light more recently. Proponents in Scotland argued that since public restrooms offer free soap and toilet paper, why not period products as well? Adding up to all these studies have indicated that a lack of period products can keep women and girls from going to work or school hence retarding the participation rates compared to male counterparts in educational institutions. This is yet another significant victory for grassroots movements and proponents of period dignity, demonstrating the impact that progressive and audacious political decisions can have. Several other nations—including Kenya, Canada, Australia, India, Colombia, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Nigeria, Uganda, Lebanon, and Trinidad and Tobago—have reduced or eliminated their taxes on period products.
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