Scottish Parliament approves stage one of a plan that will make all period products free in Scotland.
Representative Monica Lennon introduced the Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill in parliament, which was supported by all parties on Tuesday.
According to BBC News, period products are funded in schools, colleges, and universities in Scotland. However, the bill would further fight by making all period products completely free for people who need them.
Although stage one of the bill has been passed, some parliament members feel that there is still a lot of work to do and the Scotland government will make certain amendments to the bill over a few concerns. One of the concerns is that the passing the bill would cost around £24 ($31) million each year.
Lennon was thrilled to get widespread support for the bill and said she would put in the work needed to pass the bill. She said, “Access to period products should be a right and available to all.”
Period products could cost up to £8 ($10) for tampons and pads each month, which could be expensive for some girls, forcing them to use tissues or socks instead, according to a student a high school in Glasgow.
One student said, “This means that some girls [fear] to come to school and don’t want to leave the house at all.”
In the United States, at least one in five American girls had to leave school early or miss school entirely because they did not have access to period products, according to a survey.
Last year, Congresswoman Grace Meng, who is a Democrat from New York, announced the Menstrual Equity for All Act, which is the first comprehensive bill to address the challenges women and girls face while obtaining period products in the United States.
At the time, Meng said, “The fact that there are people who aren’t able to afford these products, and as a result, may miss school, may miss work, face certain stigma — I think it’s a human rights issue that, especially in the United States of America, women should not have to be dealing with.”
The act proposed by Meng would make feminine hygiene products free for women in prison. The bill would allow state departments to use federal funds to supply menstrual pads to girls in school and require that the products are available under Medicaid.
