Great, Scot(land)!
Thanks to the unanimous passing of the Period Products Act in 2021, all public buildings in Scotland are required to provide access to free period products, including tampons and pads, starting Monday, August 15th.
This historic piece of legislation is the first of its kind IN THE WORLD and is one of the most significant steps toward menstrual equity. Period!
Scotland’s dedication to supporting menstruators isn’t something brand new. In 2018, the Scottish government required that students in schools, colleges, and universities across the country would be able to access free period products through a £5.2 million ($6.3 million) investment. The government followed up that initial investment with an additional £4 million ($4.85 million) to make period products available in libraries and recreational centers without charge. Now, ALL public spaces must provide free access to products like tampons and pads to pupils, students, and guests.
Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament Monica Lennon introduced the Period Products Act in February of 2020. After the groundbreaking law passed, Lennon said,
A 2022 study from Plan International UK showed more than one in four (28%) of young women aged 14 to 21 in the survey struggle to afford period products. This kind of bill will affect millions of menstruators in Scotland and serve as a prime example of how access to period products should be free and accessible to all.
We at Aunt Flow want to congratulate Scotland on their hard work and dedication to helping change the world one cycle at a time. As we work with our international partner, Citron Hygiene, all we can wonder now is, what country will be next?
If you’re inspired to support the menstruators in your office, school, or organization, you can build an Aunt Flow period program and start helping people – period!
Sources: BBC, Scottish Government, CNN, Yale School of Medicine
