Politics: Introduction of period products law is an important milestone
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This week I was delighted to welcome the news that Scotland has become the first country in the world to protect in law the right to access free period products.
This announcement was made some time ago but only came in to force legally this week. It means councils and education providers will be legally required to make period products available free of charge to anyone who needs them as the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act comes into force.
Since 2017, the Scottish Government has invested more than £27 million to fund access in a range of public settings and the new law will cement this progress.
This is an issue I have long campaigned on and been passionate about. In 2016, I put forward a joint resolution to the SNP’s National Council calling for the creation of a "S-Card" which would allow girls and women to access free period products in supermarkets and other shops free of charge.
The suggestion of a S-Card was first made by myself and the SNP’s Political Education Officer Julie Hepburn in 2016 at the SNP National Council which decides party policy.
Then, in 2017, the first pilot scheme of its kind to provide free access to sanitary products was launched by the Scottish Government in Aberdeen, with more than £40,000 of funding in a number of areas across the city for a six-month period.
The move by the Scottish Government was in direct response to calls that I made to help end both stigma around menstruation and period poverty.
And since 2018, the Scottish Government have delivered ground-breaking action by providing free period products for pupils and students in schools, colleges and universities.
I’d like to commend the work of my Scottish Labour MSP colleague Monica Lennon on this and so many others.
This is a very important milestone in ensuring this is made possible. The conversation around periods has changed for the better but there is still so much more to be done around it and wider issues in women’s health.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to get worse, ensuring girls and women have access to free period products will go a long way to supporting access without families having to make difficult choices between sanitary products or other expenses.
While huge gains have been made in increasing access to products for vulnerable people, it is essential that the conversation moves from period poverty to period dignity.
In a society as rich as Scotland, no one should have to suffer the indignity of not having the means to meet their basic needs.
Providing access to free period products is fundamental to equality and dignity, and removes the financial barriers to accessing them.
People can find their nearest collection point through the PickupMyPeriod mobile app which was launched earlier this year by social enterprise Hey Girls with Scottish Government support.
It is free and easy to download and is available in Aberdeenshire for those who need it. I would encourage anyone who may benefit or know someone who would to recommend and download it.
