Scotland Gives Sanitary Products to Students

Scotland is providing free sanitary products to students at schools, colleges and universities nationwide, becoming the first country to do so.

"Period poverty" is a concern for many young women unable to afford sanitary products when they have their periods, according to girls' rights organization Plan International.

As a result, a large percentage of these women miss school on a regular basis, putting them behind on their studies.

In response to this crisis, Scotland has stepped up with a new campaign costing 5.2 million pounds, or about $6.4 million, to ensure that these young girls receive free sanitary products as of September this year, according to a statement.

Communities secretary Aileen Campbell said it was "unacceptable that anyone should struggle to buy basic sanitary products."

She pointed out that the new campaign meant "these essential products will be available to those who need them in a sensitive and dignified way, which will make it easier for students to fully focus on their studies."

The issue extends into the U.S. as well.

A survey conducted by Always, a leading manufacturer in sanitary products, noted that nearly one in five girls in the U.S., and one in seven Canadian girls, have left school or missed days from school because they could not access sanitary wear.

Activist Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, who authored the book "Periods Gone Public: Taking a Stand for Menstrual Equity," has been campaigning for policy changes within the U.S. to address the situation.

"How do we make change on a broad scale? How do we make this issue matter to everybody? How do we demonstrate our values as a society? We do so by passing laws," she told Harpers Bazaar. "You could look at any area of policy or public life and recognize that half and sometimes more than half of the population is affected by any given law."

She noted that menstruation was a normal process for women.

"Is there anything about menstruation that affects the way they live their lives, and therefore interact with these laws?," she asked. "Anything can be looked at through that lens, but nothing is right now."

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