A new initiative taken up by the government of Scotland will pleasantly surprise you! Taking a massive step forward towards tackling period poverty, Scotland has now become the first country in the world to provide free period products. The Period Products Act 2021 came into force on Monday and it is a legal duty of local authorities to provide free items such as tampons and sanitary pads to “anyone who needs them”. Read on to find out more about the origins of the campaign to make period products free in Scotland and the reactions to the law now being implemented in the country.
Access To Free Period Products Is Now Protected In Law
On August 15, 2022, the official Twitter handle of the Scottish Government announced the news of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 coming into effect. They wrote, “Today the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 comes into effect. This means local authorities and education providers have a legal duty to make free period products available to anyone who needs them. What we’re doing to support.”
Since 2017, the government has invested £27 million to fund access to free period products across Scotland. This includes funding for the PickUpMyPeriod app, developed by @HeyGirlsUK. The app can help you locate free period products and is available for download at myperiod.org.uk.
Today the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 comes into effect.
ℹ️ This means local authorities and education providers have a legal duty to make free period products available to anyone who needs them.
What we’re doing to support ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qcIi0alsdl
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) August 15, 2022
Monica Lennon Feels Proud To Have Pioneered The New Law In Scotland
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill was unanimously approved in November 2020 by MSPs. The bill was introduced by Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who has been campaigning to end period poverty since 2016. After the news of the bill being implemented was announced, Monica took to Twitter to show her gratitude for the necessary step taken by the Scottish Government and tweeted, “Proud of what we have achieved in Scotland. We are the first but won’t be the last.
#PeriodDignity #FreePeriodProducts #MenstrualJustice follow @Period_Poverty for updates.”
Apart from this, Shona Robison, Scotland’s social justice secretary explained how providing access to free period products was “fundamental to equality and dignity”. And we can’t agree more!
Proud of what we have achieved in Scotland. We are the first but won’t be the last. 🏴🩸🙌#PeriodDignity #FreePeriodProducts #MenstrualJustice follow @Period_Poverty for updates. https://t.co/8bFTML3MkK
— Monica Lennon MSP (@MonicaLennon7) August 15, 2022
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