Scotland Approved Free Menstrual Supplies. Pads And Tampons Will Be Available In Public Buildings

From Monday 15 August, Scotland will become the first country in the world to protect the right to free access to menstrual supplies. The law, which was approved in 2020, will ensure the availability of menstrual supplies in public buildings. Even then, it was called groundbreaking, the Scottish Parliament approved it unanimously, the DW portal says.

Fighting menstrual poverty

From Monday, local authorities and school operators are required to provide affordable menstrual supplies such as pads and tampons to anyone who needs them. People looking for these needs can use the Pickupmyperiod mobile app, which has been backed by the Scottish Parliament. Thanks to it, they can find the nearest pick-up point.

The journey to end menstrual poverty began in Scotland in 2017. Since then, the country has already invested £27 million in a range of measures that have provided menstrual needs, first in schools, and now in other public buildings. In addition to the necessities themselves, they also invested in a campaign to end the stigmatization of menstruation, as well as in building educational portals with verified information.

According to the bill, almost a fifth of Scotland's population lives in poverty. The inability to afford menstrual products harms women and transgender people in terms of their physical and mental health. Scotland set a new trend with this, as New Zealand also introduced free menstrual supplies.