In a landmark decision, Scotland became the first country ever to make period products free. This is a decision that we’re hoping other countries will follow.
The authorities now have a legal duty to provide period products such as sanitary towels and tampons to “anyone who needs them.”
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill became an act in January 2021 after a unanimous vote and finally came into effect on 15 August this year.
What will the bill change?
The products will be distributed by councils and education providers thanks to the Period Products Act. Under this bill, which was introduced by Monica Lennon MSP:
- The Scottish Government must set up a Scotland-wide scheme to allow anyone who needs period products to get them free of charge.
- Schools, colleges and universities must make a range of period products available for free, in their toilets.
- The Scottish Government will have the power to make other public bodies provide period products for free.
What is period poverty?
Lennon’s aim for the Bill was to tackle “period poverty”, which is when people who need period products can’t afford them. Products such as tampons and sanitary towels are a basic necessity and they believe providing access to them is “important for people’s dignity.”
According to research by Channel 4, someone with a period spends around £10 a month on products. With the ongoing cost of living crisis, this is becoming a steep spend for something you can’t control.
Even in the United States, the world’s richest country, a study by Action Aid revealed that nearly two thirds of women in Missouri, couldn’t afford both food and period products in 2019.
In New Zealand, a 2020 survey found that more than 90,000 school-age girls stay home from school because they can’t afford menstrual products – around one in 12. Period poverty is a serious issue and what Scotland have done is amazing although long overdue. The rest of the world needs to follow suit.
What has Scotland already done?
Lennon supports what the Scottish Government has already done to provide free period products to people in need but taking it one step further, she’s ensured its a legal requirement.
This isn’t the first time Scotland made history. Back in 2018, they became the first government in the world to make period products free to students.
Scotland’s recent decision makes accessing period products one less worry for people to consider. They don’t need to explain why they need them or how many they need. The access is there and there will be no forms to complete.
The act also stresses that a period should not be embarrassing and there’s no need to hide that you need products. Obtaining the free period products should be neither “complex nor bureaucratic”. It aims to tackle the stigma around menstruation and periods.