Addressing Period Poverty in Sri Lanka

Period poverty is a global issue affecting those who don’t have access to the safe, hygienic menstrual products they need, and/or who are unable to manage their periods with dignity, sometimes due to community stigma and sanction. 

Menstrual hygiene and health matters in all areas of life: it matters to health and well-being as unhygienic practices leads to health issues; it matters to education as improper management leads to low attendance and high dropout rates; it matters to inclusive and sustainable economic growth as poor menstrual hygiene management can limit women’s participation in the workforce; it matters to gender equality as the taboos and social norms associated with menstruation lead to gender discrimination, limiting education and workforce participation.