‘Periods don’t stop for pandemics’: Scotland becomes world’s first country to make menstrual products free for all
- A new bill to bring in the legal right of free access to items such as tampons and sanitary pads for anyone who needs them was passed on Tuesday
- It will also require schools, colleges and universities to make a range of period products available for free
Scotland’s parliament on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation making period products freely available to all.
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, brought forward by Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon, will bring in the legal right of free access to items such as tampons and sanitary pads.
Under the bill, the Scottish government must set up a nationwide scheme to allow anyone who needs period products to get them free of charge. It will also require schools, colleges and universities to make a range of period products available for free.
The bill will also give Scotland’s devolved government the power to make other public bodies provide period products for free.
“Proud to vote for this groundbreaking legislation, making Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products for all who need them,” Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a tweet after the vote.