Scotland becomes first country to provide free pads and tampons

Scotland has become the first country in the world to provide period products such as pads and tampons for free to all after legislators unanimously passed the law on Tuesday.

Photo: Cosmo

Under the new bill, Scotland will create a nationwide programme to make period products accessible to all in schools and other public organizations in an effort to eliminate period poverty (The struggle to pay for basic sanitary products on a monthly basis), especially during the pandemic. The move to provide universal access to period products has been a four-year grassroots campaign led by Monica Lennon, Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman.

“This will make a massive difference to the lives of women and girls and everyone who menstruates. There has already been great progress at a community level and through local authorities in giving everyone the chance of period dignity,” she said.

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act, which passed unanimously , will place a legal duty on local authorities to make period products available for all those who need them. The move builds on the work of councils like North Ayrshire, which has been providing free tampons and sanitary towels in its public buildings since 2018.

Featured image: The Guardian.