Let’s End Period Poverty

Scottish Labour has stepped up its campaign to tackle period poverty with the launch of a new website.

Following a round-table meeting with experts and campaigners, Labour MSP Monica Lennon has set up a new website encouraging people to get involved in the fight to help women and girls who cannot currently access or afford sanitary products. The website can be accessed at www.periodpoverty.scot and provides advice for those looking to support the campaign.

Monica Lennon has already announced plans to launch a Member’s Bill in the coming months to tackle period poverty, which could help thousands of women in Scotland.

The Labour MSP hosted a discussion with key campaigners yesterday, including representatives from the office of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, the EIS, the Glasgow Simon Community and others.

Labour’s inequalities spokeswoman Monica Lennon said:

“Poverty, health conditions and a lack of access to sanitary products all make managing menstruation difficult.

“In many homes, schools and workplaces embarrassment and stigma around periods is a barrier to hygiene and health care. We need to tackle the scandal of period poverty by first talking about the problem and then taking action to eradicate it. By launching a new website I hope to encourage people to get involved in this campaign.

“The generosity of Scots is helping food banks and shelters to distribute sanitary products but it should never come to this. My Bill will seek to change the law and make period poverty and stigma a thing of the past.”