Scotland becomes first country to offer free menstrual products
Edinburgh: Scotland becomes first country to provide free menstrual products to women.
The right to access free period products law came into force in the country from Monday.
By law, local officials and education authorities must make menstrual products available (free of charge) to anyone who needs them.
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act was unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament in November 2020. With this, free access to sanitary products in public places has become a legal right.
Earlier, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon praised the revolutionary legislation and said it was a very important law for women and children.
“Cost of living pressures are forcing people to make difficult choices.
Providing free menstrual products is fundamental to equality and dignity. This removes the financial barriers to purchasing them.
“I thank all the women and girls who have played a crucial role in developing the best possible system for free access to these products,” Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison commented on Sunday.
Those in need of menstrual products can find their nearest collection point using the mobile app PickupMyPeriod.
In addition to making free products available to people, the Scottish Government is also providing funding to improve menstrual health resources in schools and to successfully implement an anti-stigma campaign.
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