Scotland is the first country to make sanitary products free

Scotland have become the first country in the world to have sanitary products for free, meaning they are accessible for everyone.

It was announced yesterday that the Labour party were pushing for free menstruation items in Scotland, and the Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament, allowing people to access products such as tampons and sanitary towels at no cost.

The Bill for free provision of Period items was passed by 121 votes to 0 as it won the Scottish governments support.

Monica Lennon, the health spokesman for the Labour Party, has been working on tackling period poverty since 2016, when she was elected as MSP. She stated that it is a “practical and progressive” movement, and she also said, “On the issue of period dignity, I am beyond proud that Scotland is leading the way and we have moved at a fast pace in a short space of time.”

Having sanitary products available for free is great for everyone, and it means that the women who struggled to afford buying them will now be able to access them whenever they need them. It also means that young girls no longer need to spend their money on vital products. This movement merely helps tackle the stigma around periods and period poverty, as well as any embarrassment that women feel whilst asking for products.