The law aims to combat “menstrual poverty” – a situation in which girls and women cannot afford sanitary products. Scotland has become the first country in the world to commit to providing free feminine hygiene products to anyone in need.
On Tuesday, members of the Scottish Parliament voted unanimously in favor of the bill. It states that local authorities should find a way to ensure that every female resident of the country can receive free sanitary pads, tampons, or other existing means of feminine hygiene “without difficulty and without loss of personal dignity” if necessary.
The bill’s author was Labour Party MP Monica Lennon, who has led a campaign since 2016 to tackle “menstrual poverty” – a situation in which girls and women cannot afford to buy personal hygiene products. In Britain, the price of these products can reach up to 8 pounds per month (about 800 rubles). Lennon called the decision progressive and said it was particularly relevant during the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit the poorest populations hard.
In England, almost one in five schoolgirls replaces tampons and pads with menstrual alternatives that are unsuitable for menstruation. The youth charity Young Scot conducted a survey of over 2000 people. It found that around a quarter of schoolgirls and students in Scotland struggle to afford the toiletries they need each month. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, about 10% of girls could not afford these products, 15% had difficulty affording them, and 19% substituted other makeshift methods unsuitable for menstruation due to the high cost of tampons and pads. The approved bill states that sanitary products should be provided not only free of charge, but also in a comfortable environment – without compromising the girls’ sense of dignity. Research shows that this problem is particularly acute for girls between the ages of 14 and 21, for whom buying feminine hygiene products is associated with shame and psychological discomfort. Another problem identified by the research is related to education. Nearly half of the girls surveyed said they missed school while menstruating.
In Scotland, free condoms are already being distributed. Local authorities in Scotland have already had similar experiences. Since 2018, they have been distributing free condoms as part of their fight against STIs and unwanted pregnancies. For example, residents of Glasgow and surrounding areas can obtain free condoms from clinics, pharmacies, colleges and universities. The nationwide distribution system for feminine hygiene products is expected to be fully operational within two years. The new law also requires schools and other educational institutions in Scotland to make these products available to students, although in practice this is already happening.