P-06-1177 Provide Free Period Products for all Menstruating People in Wales
P-06-1177 Provide Free Period Products for all Menstruating People in Wales
This
petition was submitted Lili Smith, having collected a total of 481 signatures.
Text of Petition:
The £3.1 million provided
to schools in Wales to purchase sanitary products is not enough to keep all
young women out of period poverty and stay in education. Having experienced
period embarrassment first-hand, I know how it feels to sit through a lesson,
bleeding through my sanitary product because I was too embarrassed to ask a
friend, or teacher, if I could borrow a panty liner. We need to end the stigma
around periods, and give all women free sanitary products.
Additional Information:
1 in 10 girls aged 14-21
in the UK can't afford sanitary products. 49% of girls have missed a day of
school because of this. Young girls are risking their physical health by making
improvised sanitary products from tissue, socks and plastic bags.
This isn’t just an issue
for young teenagers. 56% of 18-24 year olds have had to go a day without period
essentials, or cut down on them due to lack of funds.
Many women are embarrassed
by their periods, and are even embarrassed about buying necessary sanitary
products for them. This shame is incredibly harmful as it prevents necessary
conversations about periods, which ultimately leads to a lack of knowledge of
the implications that come with menstruating. For example, the lack of
effective menstrual cramp pain relief, which is shown to reduce classroom performance.
This petition was considered completed by
the Petitions Committee at its meeting on 13/09/2021.
The Committee considered
the petition for the first time and agreed to note the forthcoming Welsh
Government consultation on the Period Dignity Strategic Action Plan and
encourage the petitioner to engage with this as a great way to take this
campaign further. In doing so the Committee agreed to thank the petitioner for
raising such an important issue, adding that they fully support the petition
and closed the petition.
Full details of the
consideration of this petition by the Committee and related documents can be
seen on the Meetings tab above.
It was first considered
by the Petitions Committee on 13/09/2021.
Senedd Constituency and Region
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Wales West
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Business type: Petition
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: For consideration
First published: 06/09/2021