Call for period poverty action after Scottish Bill

The Ulster Unionist Party has led calls to provide girls with free sanitary products in Northern Ireland.

This week, Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Monica Lennon, who spent many of her childhood holidays in Maghery, won her campaign to end period poverty.

Having campaigned for years, she received the backing of the Scottish Parliament for the Period Products (Free Scottish Provision) Bill.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Cllr Louise McKinstry said: “For too long periods have been treated as a taboo issue. I am glad that the conversation on the accessibility and affordability of sanitary products is now gathering steam, but we must do more than talk about it.

“Our party has been working at council level to move to provide products free of charge at our facilities and supporting the petition to see sanitary products provided in our schools. The Bill that passed in Scotland sets the bar we should be aiming for in ensuring that anyone who needs access to sanitary products can get them.

“Locally, as councillors, we have been running a campaign of ‘periods don’t stop for pandemics’, delivering products free of charge to anyone who might need them.

“We know that many are having accessibility issues as they might be shielding or isolating, and financially many are facing a hard time.

“We know that there are young people missing school time because of period poverty, and there are women having to choose between buying sanitary products or other essentials.

“The statistics are there for all to see. We will be working with our Party colleagues in the Assembly to lobby for this.

“This is really practical action that the Executive can take and I hope they will follow Scotland’s example in the near future.”

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