Scotland Makes Tampons And Pads Available For Free

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in World news November 26, 2020

Scotland became the first country in the world to make tampons and menstrual pads available for free. The country will make the tampons and pads available at all public buildings, including schools and universities.

The vote from the Scottish parliament came unanimously in favor of a Period Products bill on Tuesday. This made them the first to pass a law aimed at dealing with period poverty according to reporters.

At times, women tend to be among the most vulnerable people living in poverty without access to supplies. It can be really humiliating and debilitating when a woman bleeds in public and only a few people will understand.

This can hinder some young women from attending school or work while they are in their periods.

In the past few years, non-profit organizations like Freedom4Girls, have been working to make these products more available. Monica Lennon, a lawmaker says a wide coalition including trade unions and women’s organizations back the campaign. Monica introduced the bill last year to make pads available for free.

The budget

The law is projected to cost around £8.7 million every year by 2022 depending on how many women use the products. Its passing, however, follows an early effort in Scotland that made sanitary products available in schools, but this expands it to other public buildings also.

It also requires that a reasonable variation of products be available. A number of factors that limit access to sanitation products exist and they include living in an abusive household, stigma, and other issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also further worsened the problems women have been facing already.

Many teens have been able to get pads and tampons in school, but they still had nowhere to turn when they were learning virtually.

‘’It matters now more than ever, because periods don’t stop in a pandemic,’’ Monica Lennon said.

Check Also;

This is not a Paywall, but Newslex Point's journalism consumes a lot of time, hard-work and money. That's why we're kindly requesting you to support us in anyway they can, for as little as $1 or more, you can support us .

Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.