Period poverty

[Mibbes Aye]

Hopefully this won’t really antagonise anyone. Monica Lennon got a bill passed today with the support of all parties, that allows for free sanitary products for women in public places. It is a progressive piece of legislation and one that supports the notion of Scottish politics being forward-minded.

[marinello59]

Hopefully this won’t really antagonise anyone. Monica Lennon got a bill passed today with the support of all parties, that allows for free sanitary products for women in public places. It is a progressive piece of legislation and one that supports the notion of Scottish politics being forward-minded.

It's a great example of what can be done. Well done to members of all parties who got this one through.

[speedy_gonzales]

Fantastic legislation. A natural follow on to the scrapping of VAT on pads & tampons.
There have been plenty initiatives recently to try and ensure ladies wherever they may be, (Schools, Work, public buildings) have access to sanitary products, but unfortunately they are not always universally available.
Having a teenage daughter I've heard (what I consider to be) horrific stories about what some of her peers have had to do to get by, especially when caught out. This isn't always about poverty as in lack of money but poverty as in not having the material resource when required.
There's clearly still a bit to go, but it must be a relief for those that have been affected by this issue.

[Sylar]

I don't see how ANYONE could possibly have an issue with this. It's a great piece of legislation and something every progressive nation/region should be aspiring to.

Not, how about equal pay/opportunities for women too...

[Pretty Boy]

It shows what can be achieved when people work together and search for consensus.

It's such an obvious thing that it makes you wonder how it hasn't happened sooner. It's providing an essential service.

[calumhibee1]

Great news :agree:

[GlesgaeHibby]

Completely agree, great to see this Members Bill succeed - especially in the wake of Boris' comments last week about devolution being a disaster.

[weecounty hibby]

I don't see how ANYONE could possibly have an issue with this. It's a great piece of legislation and something every progressive nation/region should be aspiring to.

Not, how about equal pay/opportunities for women too...
Completely agree but you should see some of the comments on Twitter. I keep telling myself that these eejits are just a minority but it is still a worry that they are allowed to walk the streets unaccompanied. Great piece of legislation that makes our wee country a world leader

[Vault Boy]

Completely agree but you should see some of the comments on Twitter. I keep telling myself that these eejits are just a minority but it is still a worry that they are allowed to walk the streets unaccompanied. Great piece of legislation that makes our wee country a world leader

It's so often the 'wee countries' that take the lead on truly progressive policy. Scotland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, and New Zealand to name just a few who consistently outclass larger nations in their policy making.

[ronaldo7]

Nice to see this eventually come to fruition. The hard work of Monica Lennon, Aileen Campbell, and all those who've campaigned for this deserve great praise.

Special mention to Gillian Martin MSP whose been campaigning for this since her women for Indy days.

Well done all.

[Saturday Boy]

Well done to everyone involved in this legislation.

I can remember being slightly startled by my Parish Priest asking for help with buying sanitary products for the women refugees from the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

I realised that men start wars without thought for the consequences for women or children.

In those days it was about donating blankets that could be reused. I’m amazed that it’s taken 30 years but at last something is being done.

It’s all about respect for people.

[Jim44]

One of my feisty nieces, who lives in London is one of the lawyers and campaigners of the Red Box Project which fights for free access by schoolgirls to sanitary products in schools. Over the last few years they have successfully taken on the Tory government and won the rights for all girls to avoid missing out on education because of period poverty.

http://redboxproject.org/about/

[neil7908]

Fantastic stuff, congrats to all involved.