Amidst the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, some great news emerged out of Scotland this year. In November, it was announced that the country would be the first to make period products free for all. The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill was introduced by MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) Monica Lennon, who has been spearheading a campaign to end period poverty for the last four years. The legislation mandates that local authorities ensure that items such as tampons and pads are available to “anyone who needs them”.
According to Lennon, the legislation is “practical and progressive”, adding that “periods don’t stop for pandemics and the work to improve access to essential tampons, pads and reusables has never been more important”. This act is just the latest salvo in Scotland’s assault on period poverty. In 2018, its government announced that students at schools, colleges and universities would have free access to sanitary products as part of a