HillNote
All over the world, many people who menstruate lack access to safe, hygienic menstrual products, or the means to manage their periods with dignity. Menstrual Hygiene Day, established in 2013 by the German non-profit WASH United, is marked worldwide on 28 May each year. The goal of Menstrual Hygiene Day is to create a world without “period poverty” or stigma by 2030. Specifically, Menstrual Hygiene Day aims to raise awareness and change negative social norms surrounding menstruation and ensure that all people who menstruate have adequate access to products for good menstrual hygiene management. The initiative is supported by various non-governmental and governmental agencies and the private sector. This HillNote provides an overview of legislation on the provision of free menstrual products thatwas enacted in Scotland in 2021 and examines Canadian initiatives to improve access to menstrual products, focusing on the federal level.