After a four-year campaign led by Labor Party MP Monica Lennon, Scotland has made sanitary products free and accessible to all women, thus becoming the first country in the world to do so.
The Scottish Parliament finally passed The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act on Tuesday evening. This law includes the introduction of a national program that requires local authorities to ensure that free sanitary products, such as sanitary pads and tampons, are provided to those in need.
Institutions such as schools, colleges and other institutions will now be required make all feminine hygiene products accessible to everyone.
First introduced in April 2019, the bill’s main objective was to end period poverty in the country.
The official administrator of Parliament first shared the news, which was then retweeted by Lennon herself.
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Lennon tweeted, “Thank you to everyone who has campaigned for period dignity and to my MSP colleagues for backing the Bill tonight. A proud day for Scotland and a signal to the world that free universal access to period products can be achieved.”
Thank you to everyone who has campaigned for period dignity and to my MSP colleagues for backing the Bill tonight.
A proud day for Scotland and a signal to the world that free universal access to period products can be achieved. #freeperiodproducts ??????? https://t.co/NC3e97jPuQ
— Monica Lennon (@MonicaLennon7) November 24, 2020
The original announcement by the Scottish Parliament on Twitter read, “The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill has been passed unanimously by MSPs this evening.”
The historic move shows how universal access to health care and sanitation is possible for all.
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