Change is in the air: some progress in policy and practice beyond Europe

Photo credit: Global Girls Glow

While our primary focus is always on the Netherlands and especially Amsterdam, we know that thanks to the hard work of advocates around the world advances in period policy happen. We continue to follow these developments not only because they inspire us, but because we can all learn from one another. Period poverty has continued to garner global attention, as significant policy measures are launched in regions beyond Europe. In case you’ve missed them, here are some highlights from the last two years:

Canada

In 2021, the government committed to updating the Canada Labour Code to ensure access to menstrual products in federally regulated workplaces. This initiative reflects the growing recognition that menstrual products are as essential as other workplace supplies, such as toilet paper and soap, and should be readily available for all who need them.¹

Kenya

Kenya continues to be one of the world’s leaders in actively tackling period poverty: already in 2004, it eliminated the tax on period products. Since 2011, the Kenyan government has allocated approximately $3 million annually to provide free sanitary pads in schools, aimed at students in low-income communities.² And since 2022, the price of sanitary pads has continued to drop significantly, with some products retailing for 50 Kenya shillings (€0.35) in 2023, making them the most affordable in a BBC study.³

United States

In the U.S., period poverty has been recognized as a significant issue affecting millions of low-income women–an estimated one in four teens and one in three adults in fact. Efforts to combat this have included a mix of grassroots activism, nonprofit work, and legislative initiatives. On a national level, Rep. Grace Meng has reintroduced the Menstrual Equity for All Act, advocating for a comprehensive, government-wide approach to eliminate period poverty. This act seeks to expand access to menstrual products across various settings, though it faces challenges in Congress.⁴

While approaches vary, the policy shift is more visible at the state level, with New York, California, and Illinois having passed laws mandating the provision of free menstrual products in schools, shelters, and correctional facilities. Over 21 states have eliminated sales tax on menstrual products, with recent successes in Colorado, Iowa, and Nebraska.⁵ This year, thanks to campaigning led by young students, beyond also removing the sales tax and providing free period products to those in prison, Nebraska has also seen the introduction of a bill calling for free period products in public schools grades 6-12 by 2025.⁶ Beyond mandating free period products in elementary, middle and high schools, New Mexico approached the cost issue slightly differently, allowing retailers to deduct the product tax.⁷

As in other countries, many NGOs continue to play crucial roles both in distributing products and raising awareness nationwide, as well as engaging in advocacy to build on the momentum of these legislative wins.

Period poverty in conflict zones

It should be mentioned that there are many countries facing critical degrees of period poverty due to extreme climate change and widespread economic struggle. But there are also many areas of the world facing high levels of conflict, where period poverty becomes a critical public health issue, as access to menstrual products and safe sanitation is severely compromised. In Ukraine, for instance, ongoing conflict has disrupted supply chains, making it difficult for women to access basic menstrual hygiene products.⁸ Similar challenges exist in Gaza, where overcrowded and unsanitary conditions force women to resort to extreme measures, such as using birth control when they can access these medications, to avoid menstruation altogether due to the extreme and chronic lack of resources in Palestine since October 2024.⁹

A systematic review of menstrual hygiene management during humanitarian crises published in Frontiers in Public Health journal confirms and underscores the heightened risk of infection and stigma faced by women and girls in low- and middle-income countries. The 2022 review emphasizes the need for integrated MHM solutions in any humanitarian aid, underscoring that menstrual health must be prioritized alongside food and shelter in all emergency responses.¹⁰

Warm thanks to Nafila Maani and Lea Hamm for volunteering their time to NF and contributing to this update.

References

¹ Canada, Employment and Social Development. 2023. “Canada Labour Code to ensure access to menstrual products at work starting December 15”. Canada.ca, May 10, 2023. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2023/05/canada-labour-code-to-ensure-access-to-menstrual-products-at-work-starting-december-15.html

² Cohen, Joshua P. 2022. The Netherlands to make menstrual hygiene products freely available to individuals living on low incomes. Forbes. December 7, 2022. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2022/12/07/the-netherlands-to-make-menstrual-hygiene-products-freely-available-to–individuals-living-on-low-incomes/

³ Ogola, Esther, Gem O’Reilly & Nunoo Favour. 2023. “Period poverty: African women priced out of buying sanitary pads.” BBC. August 10, 2023. 
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66423981

⁴ Current Affairs. 2024. “How Grace Meng is Trying To End Period Poverty Through the ‘Menstrual Equity for All’ Act.” Current Affairs Inc. May 29, 2024.
https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2023/09/how-grace-meng-is-trying-to-end-period-poverty-through-the-menstrual-equity-for-all-act

⁵ “Sales Tax Exemption Essential Hygiene Products | Colorado General Assembly.” 2022. 
Colorado General Assembly. June 3, 2022. 
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1055

⁶ Wendling, Zach. 2024. “Nebraska Students Take Fight Against ‘Period Poverty’ to Legislature” Nebraska Examiner. February 13, 2024.
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-students-take-fight-against-period-poverty-to-legislature/

⁷ Sharfin, Sami. 2024. “New Mexico Public Schools to Provide Free Period Products.” Aunt Flow. August 6, 2024.
https://goauntflow.com/blog/new-mexico-public-schools-to-provide-free-period-products/. Comment end

⁸ Martin, Jennifer, J, Eunice Kilonzo-Muraya, Margaret Schmitt, Erza Selmani, & Marni Sommer. 2022. Periods don’t stop for conflict | Think Global Health. Council on Foreign Relations. March 3, 2022.
https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/periods-dont-stop-conflict

⁹ Hassan, Yasmine and Rhianna Schmunk. 2024. “Periods are a nightmare in Gaza’s crowded, unsanitary camps. Women are using birth control to skip them.” CBC, May 9, 2024. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gaza-period-product-women-use-birth-control-to-skip-menstruation-1.7179069

¹⁰ Patel, Kripalini, Nishisipa Panda, Krushna Chandra Sahoo, Shipra Saxena, Narendra Singh Chouhan, Pratibha Singh, Upasona Ghosh and Bhuputra Panda. 2022. A systematic review of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) during humanitarian crises and/or emergencies in low- and middle-income countries. Frontiers in Public Health 10. September 8, 2022.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9555566/