New Zealand to provide free feminine hygiene products to schools to tackle “menstrual poverty”

The New Zealand government said Thursday it will provide free feminine hygiene products to all schools across the country from June with the aim of fight against “menstrual poverty”.

The measure gives continuity and is developed at the national level successful pilot program implemented last year in 15 schools in the Waikato area, on the North Island, where approximately 3,200 students participated, said the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

“Young women should not lose part of their education for something normal for more than half of the population (…) The positive response from schools and students encouraged us to extend the initiative to all schools in New Zealand ”, said the president of Fairfield College, which is part of the pilot program.

The Prime Minister stressed that “Providing free feminine hygiene products in schools is one way for the government to directly fight poverty, help increase school attendance and have a positive impact on the well-being of girls.”

The president stressed that one in twelve students does not go to school due to problems related to “menstrual poverty”, as the lack of access to feminine hygiene products is called.

The program will include a New Zealand $ 25 million fund (around 18 million US dollars or nearly 15 million euros) to run until 2024.

The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Jan Tinetti, indicated with Ardern that Problems with menstruation include embarrassment, stigma, skipping classes, or inability to afford the cost of products.

In November, Scotland became the first country in the world to provide free feminine hygiene products to anyone in need. included in public places.

(With information from EFE)

KEEP READING:

New Zealand announced the end of lockdown in Auckland for infections with the British variant of the coronavirus

From New Zealand to Brazil: the ranking of the countries that have best responded to the pandemic

New Zealand will keep its borders closed for the rest of the year to non-peaceful travelers

Scotland passed a law allowing free access to women’s health products