Scotland becomes first country in the world to provide free period products to those in need

By Charlie Sawyer

Published Aug 15, 2022 at 12:10 PM

Reading time: 1 minute

34804

Scotland has officially become a trailblazer in the fight for free period products. The Period Products Act, passed on Monday 15 August 2022, will make it a legal requirement for any council or education provider within Scotland to distribute free sanitary products.

In the official government transcript, it was found that there were 121 votes for the bill, and zero against—deeming it a resounding success.

This incredibly important bill was first introduced by Labour health spokesperson, Monica Lennon, who has been campaigning to tackle period poverty within Scotland as early as 2016. Upon victory, she told Sky News: “This is another big milestone for period dignity campaigners and grassroots movements which shows the difference that progressive and bold political choices can make.”

According to ITV News, since 2017, approximately £27 million has been spent in Scotland to directly help provide access to sanitary products in public settings. The Period Products Act will further this aid and help to supply necessary products amid a serious cost-of-living crisis that is affecting all of the United Kingdom.

Period poverty has been a major political issue within the past decade. While this new law is a definite win for all those who struggle with affording period products, it would be inaccurate to say that the stigmas surrounding menstruation and gender health are a thing of the past in our society today. While period products themselves are essential, period education is equally crucial.

During the pandemic, everyday toiletries quickly became luxuries. In Wales, a number of schools took to providing period parcels which included a number of different products including reusable and sustainable period products, chocolates and face masks. These schemes were incredibly helpful for a number of families and, with the passing of this new Scottish bill, there is hope for even greater resources in the future.

This legislation is an invaluable step in legally requiring both national governments and local authorities to step up and provide essential care and services for a naturally occuring bodily function that affects a vast amount of people in our society.

As expressed by Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison to Sky News, providing access to free and safe period products is “fundamental to equality and dignity, and removes the financial barriers to accessing them.” With Scotland becoming the first national government to take this leap, we hope to see other countries follow suit.

Keep On Reading

By Charlie Sawyer

The Girl’s Spot London female-only gym faces backlash after CEO reveals it will exclude trans women

By Abby Amoakuh

Planned Parenthood goes viral for Wicked meme remix that leaves netizens speechless

By Abby Amoakuh

Unpacking the many controversies of Disney’s live action Snow White and its lead Rachel Zegler

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

How celebrities like Mark Wahlberg and Gwen Stefani are monetising spirituality through the Hallow app

By Abby Amoakuh

I sat down with two professional matchmakers to solve Gen Z’s dating fatigue

By Abby Amoakuh

Keke Palmer recounts agent’s shocking response to inappropriate kiss scene she had to shoot age 12

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Robert F. Kennedy Jr declares war on teen sperm count, stating it’s an existential crisis

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

What is going on with Sky News Australia? Conspiracy theories, plagiarism, and Selena Gomez drama explained

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Kim Kardashian’s Paris $10 million heist: grandpa robbers tell all as trial begins

By Annabel Smith

Is TikTok’s protect your peace trend empowering Gen Z women or causing social isolation?

By Abby Amoakuh

Amandla Stenberg faces colourism backlash for role in Children of Blood and Bone

By Charlie Sawyer

Are digital ghosts and deepfakes of the dead threatening the way we grieve?

By Abby Amoakuh

Did The Summer I Turned Pretty star Gavin Casalegno cheat on his ex-girlfriend Larsen Thompson?

By Charlie Sawyer

Why has the new sculpture of a Black American woman in Times Square prompted mass outrage?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Latino boycott of Coca-Cola goes viral after TikTok claims the company reported workers to ICE

By Lucy Skoulding

The US death penalty under Donald Trump: Why executions are on the rise again

By Abby Amoakuh

How TikTok Live in Kenya is fueling concerns over virtual abuse and child exploitation

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Mark Zuckerberg criticised as Meta allegedly censors abortion pill providers, raising Trump alliance fears

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

How incel TikTok accounts are rebranding to avoid getting banned

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Logan Paul trolling the BBC with a lookalike amid cryptocurrency scandal is so on brand