From considering the role government can play on a macro-level of setting national agendas, to the specifics of what it means to design a building that is MHM-conscious, the panelists each contributed to a dynamic conversation on how to improve menstrual equity through policy shifts and standards. Here we will be focusing on a selection of key ideas that emerged from the discussion.
Yesterday, just eight days after taking office, U.S. President Joe Biden announced an intention to restore U.S. funding to the UNFPA. This represents a major policy change for the U.S., after four years of withdrawn funding by the U.S. for the UNFPA under former President Donald Trump.
A truism within the tech world is, “if you’re not paying for the product, you ARE the product.” But what does that mean for users of the proliferation of menstrual trackers available today? Why might those working in low income contexts where smart tech is not yet commonly used still want to keep an eye on in-country data privacy legislation for the future? And what might some data-safer period tracking alternatives be in the meantime?
Widespread news of its passage back in March was premature. But with the final passage of its period products bill on November 24, Scotland has now officially become the first country in the world to decide to provide free menstrual products to all menstruators.
Or, more accurately, it has not passed the bill yet. Despite exuberant recent news headlines to the contrary, Scotland did not just pass a bill to provide menstrual products for all in need. At this juncture, the bill in question has only passed the first of many procedural stages on its journey to possible final passage. This post summarizes the political process that this bill still faces to potentially becoming a global first, while analyzing how accuracy can matter in news and social media sharing about global progress on menstrual hygiene issues.
In July 2018, the Tanzanian Government removed the VAT (“Value Added Taxes”) from disposable menstrual pads , joining a small group of countries that no longer tax these items. But just one year later, the government suddenly announced that it would be fully reinstating the tax. This post discusses some potential lessons to be learned for anyone working towards the elimination of female-focused taxes in their own countries.
When considering the process of policy-making on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) issues, the roles of politicians, journalists, lobbyists, and interest groups tend to be the focus. Less often considered is the role of the wives of politicians, both national and local, as change-makers for female-focused policy, including issues pertaining to menstrual health. Here, we review the instrumental role of the wives of leaders, or “first ladies,” of several countries in keeping menstrual health on the political and media forefront.
