Every woman and girl deserves dignity, but not all enjoy this basic right. Some struggle. Every month, 500 million of them struggle. Just because they bleed.
On March 8, the world celebrates the International Women’s Day. Together with the Women’s Ministry departments, ADRA Europe is launching a campaign, “Put a full stop to period poverty”.
Period Poverty Campaign
Many girls and women struggle every month during their periods. All those who menstruate, wherever they live, experience challenges when managing their period. These might include a lack of products, toilets or disposal facilities, enduring pain, and being bullied or being restricted from activities and locations. In high-income countries, these challenges are often referred to as “period poverty” and, in low-middle-income countries, as “poor menstrual hygiene management”. But the result is the same: a large proportion of the global population is disadvantaged by having a period.
Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, handwashing facilities, or waste management.
Around the world, women who menstruate may be ostracized from basic activities, like eating certain foods or socializing. The cultural shame attached to menstruation, and a shortage of resources, can stop women from going to school and working every day. The World Bank estimates that 500 million women and girls globally lack access to adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management.
In Europe, ADRA and the Adventist Church are involved
In March 2023, ADRA Europe, the Inter-European Division’s and the Trans-European Division’s women ministries departments launched the “Full STOP to Period Poverty” initiative. The campaign will inspire people to make washroom facilities “female-friendly”.
The Adventist faith community is invited to make menstrual health products available in restrooms of our spaces, such as ADRA offices, church buildings, schools, universities, church institutions and others; to create “female-friendly spots” – spaces where menstrual health products will be free for those who struggle to afford them; to educate and talk about menstruation; to advocate for making menstrual products affordable; to partner with local communities and to fundraise and collect funds.
To find more information and resources, please go here.
