New Zealand, free hygienic protections

After Scotland, it is New Zealand's turn to experience free hygienic protection. Jacinda Arden, Prime Minister, and Julie Anne Genter, Minister of Women, announced it in a press release on June 3, the day before the day against menstrual precariousness. Tampons and towels will be distributed free of charge to girls aged 9 to 18, initially in fifteen schools across the country, in the Waikato region. This experiment represents a cost of 2.2 million New Zealand dollars, or about 1.26 million euros.

"We know that nearly 95,000 girls aged 9 to 18 stay at home during their period because they cannot afford hygienic protection"said Jacinda Harden. The objective is to fight against menstrual precariousness and child poverty, but also to promote the education of girls. "By providing them free of charge, we support these young girls so that they can continue studying", underlines the head of the government. The experiment will be extended to the whole country if it proves conclusive.

A New Zealand-wide study, the Youth19 Period Poverty, found that 8% of students missed school due to lack of periodical protection. This figure rises to 21% in disadvantaged areas, and 14% of girls in school miss their lessons more than one day per month. The situation is even more worrying in families of Maori and Pacific Island origin. There is 19% of menstrual precariousness, against 9% in families of European origin. "Rules are a necessity for half the population. Access to sanitary protection is a necessity, not a luxury", said Julie Anne Genter. In France, a similar experiment will be carried out in September 2020, for secondary school pupils, female students, female prisoners, and the homeless.

Elementary Rules tells us about menstrual precariousness

Video by Juliette Le Peillet

Also read: 5 misconceptions about rules to ban

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