This week marked Menstrual Health* Day, but our commitment to raising awareness extends far beyond just today. Through our employee-led in-house campaign, Empower, we’re advocating for change. Because, frankly, period equity is a human right.
Millions of people around the world are prevented from reaching their full potential simply because they have periods. According to a recent study by Action Aid, 21 percent are struggling to afford period products.
With Empower’s collaborations with Bloody Good Period, an organisation fighting period poverty, and the influential advocacy of its Chair, Baroness Verma, we’re pushing for legislative changes that promote period equity.
How We’re Moving Forward
For many, menstruation is a monthly struggle that impacts their education, work, and social lives. The lack of access to menstrual products and facilities, coupled with societal stigma, often leads to missed school days, lost income, and ongoing inequality. Addressing menstrual health isn’t just about comfort and hygiene; it’s about dignity, equality, and empowerment.
In 2019, the Government pledged to end period poverty in the UK by 2025. However, the cost of living crisis has worsened the situation, according to Plan Action UK. The quality of care has dropped, and the need for action is more urgent than ever.
With a general election looming on July 4th, Empower is determined to put period poverty at the forefront of the political agenda. We’re ramping up our efforts to ensure that period poverty is prominently featured in policy manifestos, and that the future government takes decisive action to eliminate it.
Empower’s mission is to create a world where periods are no longer a barrier. This involves:
Breaking Taboos: Challenging and changing the narratives around menstruation to eliminate stigma.
Education: Providing accurate and comprehensive period education to everyone.
Access: Ensuring everyone has access to period products, just as they do to toilet paper.
Policy Change: Pushing for laws that support menstrual equity, as has been done in Scotland, where the right to free period products is now law.
Whether by raising awareness in your local communities or advocating for policy changes, every action counts. As we continue working with MPs and charities, Empower is certain we can create a period-friendly world where menstruation is not a hindrance but a normal, manageable part of life.
*To reposition issues of menstruation away from associations with it being ‘unhygienic,’ we’re following Bloody Good Period and opting to use the phrase ‘menstrual health’ instead of ‘menstrual hygiene.’