SCHOOLS, colleges, universities and other institutions should be made to hand out free tampons and towels as part of a drive to end “period poverty”, it has been claimed.
There is a growing concern amongst politicians and poverty charities about the risks to the health and education of women and girls who cannot afford sanitary products.
Scots will now be asked to back proposals to hand sanitary products to “anyone who needs them” in a consultation spearheaded by a Labour MSP.
Monica Lennon will join campaigners from across civic Scotland at Holyrood today to promote her member’s bill, at an event chaired by comedian and political commentator Ayesha Hazarika.
The bill would compel ministers to introduce a universal system of free provision of sanitary products, and put a duty on all schools, colleges and universities to provide free sanitary products in campus toilets.
The bill would also allow Scottish Ministers to extend these duties to other bodies in future if deemed appropriate or necessary.?Ms Lennon, Labour’s inequalities spokeswoman, said: “Scotland has the opportunity to be a world leader in ending period poverty. Access to sanitary products should be a basic right but sadly in Scotland we know not everyone can afford or obtain what they need.?“That’s why I intend to introduce a legal duty on the Scottish Government to develop a universal system in Scotland which will provide free sanitary products for anyone who needs them.?“My proposal also includes a statutory duty on schools, colleges and universities to provide free sanitary products in their toilets. Having your period shouldn’t result in anyone missing class.?“This is a big step towards creating a fairer and more equal society and I hope to hear from people right across Scotland during the consultation.”
The Scottish Government recently launched a pilot scheme in Aberdeen where low income women and girls are to be offered free sanitary products.
Earlier this year, Communities Minister Angela Constance said the Scottish Government will look at the possibility of introducing an “S-card” similar to the existing C-Card for free access to condoms.
The card could be handed into a local pharmacy, supermarket, GP practice or other providers.
SNP MSP Gillian Martin has also campaigned for free sanitary products, and said they should be available to all and not means tested.
Speaking in April, she said she has been given a commitment by the Scottish Government that all potential methods and solutions would be fully researched.
“Poverty is the main reason certain women and girls cannot access period products but there are other barriers like domestic abuse and coercive control where a woman may not have access to her own money, or is stopped from accessing the products she needs,” she said.
The issue of “period poverty” was starkly depicted in Ken Loach’s influential drama I, Daniel Blake — written by Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty — in which a young woman is caught stealing tampons after being sanctioned by the Department of Work and Pensions.
Ewan Gurr, the Scotland development officer for the Trussell Trust, said the drama has spurred politicians and campaigners into action.
“My sense is that there is an openness from the Scottish Government, but they have to have evidence to back it up,” he said last year.
“This issue is beginning to build traction. Ken and Paul captured an experience that has been going on in food banks for many years and prompted public outrage. We need to build on that now with research and action.”
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