Scotland has enacted legislation to make menstrual products available free of charge to those in need.
The Scottish government said it became the first government in the world to legally protect the right to access free menstrual products when the Menstrual Products Act came into effect on Monday.
Under the new law, schools, colleges, universities and local governments are required to make various sanitary products such as tampons and sanitary pads available free of charge in bathrooms. The Scottish government has already invested millions of pounds to fund free term products for educational institutions since 2017, but the law makes it a legal requirement.
Mobile phone apps can also help you find the nearest place to buy sanitary products, such as your local library or community center.
"Providing access to free sanitary products is fundamental to equality and dignity and removes the economic barriers to accessing them," said Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shauna Robison. said.
"This is more important than ever at a time when the cost of living crisis is forcing people to make difficult choices, and we don't want anyone to be without access to sanitary products," she said. I was. Added.
The bill, which was unanimously passed in 2020, is the result of Monica, a Scottish MP who has campaigned against "physiological poverty" where people in need cannot afford sanitary products. Submitted by Lennon.
"I am proud of what I have achieved in Scotland," Lennon tweeted on Monday. ``We will be the first, but we will not be the last.''
The Scottish government is leading the world in its move, with countries such as South Korea and New Zealand taking similar approaches. said.
Last year, the New Zealand government announced that all schools in New Zealand would provide free sanitary products as part of an effort to help poor students who are out of school due to physiological poverty. did.
