In the ‘Women, Peace & Security’ (WPS) Global Agenda, ‘Period Poverty’ is a Global Peace Economics Crisis. With the ‘Super Naari - A Period Equity Initiative’, the Saroni Roy Foundation strives to work towards raising public awareness & creating inclusive, equitable access to menstrual health education & products. 

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Global Peacebuilders Forum – A Panel Discussion

 

Theme: ‘Women, Peace & Security’ (WPS) Global Agenda, Gandhian values of Satyagraha & Women Leading Non-Violent Societies.

 

Focus: A Call-to-Action for the Global Peace Economics Crisis - Period Equity.

 

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, grounded in the principles of Satyagraha and non-violent societal leadership by women, emphasizes the importance of women's roles in fostering global peace and stability. However, an often-overlooked aspect of women's health and empowerment is period equity. Period poverty, the lack of access to adequate menstrual hygiene products and education, is a global crisis that affects millions of women and girls, impeding their health, education, and economic opportunities. This issue is particularly severe in fragile and conflict-affected regions, where it undermines the WPS agenda’s goals. Addressing period poverty is essential for achieving gender equality and ensuring women’s meaningful participation in peace and security processes.

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The Scope of the Crisis

 

Global Impact of Period Poverty

 

Period poverty affects an estimated 500 million women and girls worldwide (World Bank, 2022). The implications of this crisis are profound:

• Health: Lack of access to menstrual products leads to the use of unsafe materials, causing infections and other health issues.

• Education: In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in ten girls misses school during their periods, leading to significant educational setbacks and higher dropout rates (ActionAid UK, 2023).

• Economic Opportunities: Missing school or work due to menstruation-related issues limits economic prospects and perpetuates cycles of poverty.

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GLOBAL CITIZEN EXPLAINS

 

People who menstruate are ostracized from basic activities, like eating certain foods or socializing, all over the world. The cultural shame attached to menstruation and a shortage of resources stop women from going to school and working every day. Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, handwashing facilities, or waste management.

Some countries, states, and cities around the world have passed laws mandating schools provide period products to students, deeming them as essential as toilet paper, but more work needs to be done. In fact, US federal prisons only made menstrual products free in 2018. In addition, a study from 2017 showed that nearly 1 in 5 girls had missed school due to lack of access to period products.

But efforts to recognize period poverty as an urgent issue continue to charge forward. The first global forum on period poverty is set to launch in Australia in October 2022, with the world’s top leaders in the space coming together to set goals for menstrual advocacy.