30Apr

A New Definition of Menstrual Health

30 April 20210 comment

Team of global experts officially defines the term “menstrual health” Written by Fiona Sleigh, IMHER Student Research Assistant As part of the effort to advance menstrual policy, research, and practice, a leading team of experts organized by the Global Menstrual Collective has officially defined the term “menstrual health.” The team of 51 experts from around the world defined menstrual health (a noun) as: “A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in relation to the menstrual cycle.” By defining this term, the team aims to unite and direct the menstrual movement. Senior author Thérèse Mahon wrote that having…

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21Apr
ACMHM 2021 Symposium Save the Date

Upcoming Symposium: Improving Menstrual Health Management in Africa

21 April 2021

Save the Date – 25 to 27 May 2021, in honor of Menstrual Hygiene Day In 2018, the UNFPA brought to Johannesburg many of those working on menstrual health and hygiene in Africa to honor Menstrual Hygiene Day, while building alliances across the continent (see IMHER’s post on that event.) Three years later, the spirit of that event is continuing – this time, in remote form – with a three-day online symposium sponsored by the ACMHM (The African Coalition for Menstrual Health Management) and MH Day. If it is anything like its predecessor – which it intends to be, as outlined in the symposium concept note – this…

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04Mar

Advancing Menstrual Equity at the Systemic Level: A Webinar Report

4 March 20210 comment

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.

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15Feb

Webinar Alert: Period Posse on Participatory Consultation for MHM this week

15 February 20210 comment

On Thursday, February 18th, starting at 8 AM EST, Period Posse based at Columbia University will host a Zoom webinar focused on including the voices of women and girls in the MHM project life cycle. The webinar will feature a number of experts using innovative consultation methods designed to more fully integrate the views of menstruators into MHM work.

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03Feb

Webinar Alert: Advancing Menstrual Equity at the Systemic Level Through Policy Shifts and Standards

3 February 20210 comment

On Thursday, Feb 25, from 10:00-11:00 AM EAT, Days for Girls and the African Coalition for Menstrual Health Management will co-host a Zoom Webinar focused on menstrual health policy in East and Southern Africa. The webinar will feature a number of speakers working on menstrual health issues and policy in the region. IMHER is an honorary co-host of the event.

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29Jan

U.S. Resumes UNFPA Funding After Four-year Hiatus

29 January 20210 comment

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.

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21Jan

Privacy issues to watch as smart tech usage increases around the world

21 January 20210 comment

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?

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