Scotland makes health history, time for other countries to follow suit

Scotland has officially become the first country in the world to make menstrual products, including tampons and pads, free and available in public settings.

In November 2020, the Period Products bill was passed unanimously by Scottish lawmakers, representing a landmark victory for the global movement against period poverty. The bill was introduced by Monica Lennon, a member of the Scottish Parliament for the Central Scotland region. Her aim was to tackle period poverty, the conditions which contribute to lower-income people being unable to afford or access suitable period products. She views these products as a basic necessity, and believes that providing access to them is important for people’s dignity. Supporting the Scottish government and what they have already done to provide free period products to those in need, she wanted to go further by making it a legal requirement.

Under the Period Product Bill:

• The Scottish Government must set up a Scotland-wide scheme to allow anyone who needs period products to have access to them free of charge

• Schools, colleges and universities must make a range of period products available for free, in their toilets

• The Scottish Government will have the power to require other public bodies to provide period products for free

Photo: Courtesy of Hey Girls

The new law means period products will be available for access in schools, universities, and public buildings across Scotland. The responsibility to ensure that these products are available free of charge lies in the local authorities and education providers.

A social organization in Scotland, Hey Girls, ran a study in 2018 which found that one in four school-aged women in Scotland has faced period poverty at some point in their lifetime. 

“As the cost-of-living crisis takes hold, the Period Products Act is a beacon of hope which shows what can be achieved when politicians come together for the good of the people we serve.” Lennon tweeted. “Proud of what we have achieved in Scotland. We are the first but won’t be the last.”