Dear partners and supporters,
This edition of The Periodical is jampacked with interesting and insightful updates from the world of menstrual health and hygiene, including news about free period product provision in Australia and Malaysia, new research, upcoming events and conferences, such as Women Deliver, and our all-new Menstruation Bracelet Portrait series. Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023 is just 14 weeks away. So keep your eyes open for more info soon!
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Menstruation Bracelet Portraits
The red ribbon for HIV/AIDS. The rainbow flag for LGBTQ+ rights. Symbols have the power to catalyse awareness and action. With 28 beads, five of which are red: the Menstruation Bracelet is a global symbol for periods. From this week onwards, we’re publishing portraits of political decision-makers, NGO leaders, activists, youth leaders and other opinion makers from around the world who told us why they’re wearing the Menstruation Bracelet and what it means to them. You can find the posts on our channels such as LinkedIn and Instagram.
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News and views
Kenya: Senator, Gloria Orwoba, was asked to leave parliament over a period stain on her clothing. However, she spoke out saying she was proud to take a stand against period shame.
Malaysia: The newly appointed Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa announced that her ministerial office will give out free sanitary pads to combat period poverty.
Australia: New South Wales started to roll out free menstrual hygiene products for school students.
India: The Keralan government decided to grant menstrual leave and maternity leave for female students in universities.
Namibia: The Finance Ministry has declared that tampons are a luxury item.
Are DIY menstrual pads an unsustainable trend? Read more.
‘Smart Tampon’ Uses AI to Detect Cervical Cancer Read more.
Mission Menstruation: How Michigan State University students got free menstrual products in over 100 buildings. Read more.
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Research
Lindsey C.M. Trépanier, Élisabeth Lamoureux, Sarah E. Bjornson, Cayley Mackie, Nicole M. Alberts, Michelle M. Gagnon (2023): Smartphone apps for menstrual pain and symptom management: A scoping review. Internet Interventions
Sarah Fourcassier, Mélanie Douziech, Paula Pérez-López, Londa Schiebinger (2022), Menstrual products: A comparable Life Cycle Assessment, Cleaner Environmental Systems
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Period Posse webinar series, Feb to April 2023
The Period Posse has three webinars lined up for this spring. The first one, Fibroids 101: Menstrual Health Facts & Findings, is on 23 February. Find out more info and register.
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UN Water Conference, 22-24 March 2023
Held around World Water Day, this high-level conference acts as the midterm review of the International Decade for Action (Water Action Decade 2018-2028 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development). As part of the official programme, WASH United and partners have secured a session on MHH. Find out more.
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Women Deliver, 17-20 July 2023
Taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, Women Deliver 2023 is one of the largest multi-sectoral conferences on gender equality. This year, WASH United and the Global Menstrual Collective are forming a MHH Task Group to advocate for MHH at WD2023. If you’re planning on attending the conference and want to share your plans or simply want to be kept n the loop, fill in this form.
Thank you to the MH Hub for their support!
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Society for Menstrual Cycle Research Conference, 20-23 July 2023
The 2023 edition of the conference is taking place in Bethesda, USA. The theme is: ‘The period is political- Menstrual Research, policy and practice. Get more information here.
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Resources
The Period Equality Network (PEN) hosted by Irise provides a set of resources developed to help organisations of all sizes to deliver more effective period equality programmes. Find the resources here.
Period legislation in the USA: the Alliance for Period Supplies and PERIOD. have built an interactive map with state-level bills related to period, currently being considered by state legislatures. Find it here.
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We hope you enjoyed reading this issue of the Periodical. If you have news, events and new resources to share, drop us a line at: info@menstrualhygieneday.org
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