Plan to end period poverty proposed to European Commission by Mayo MEP

A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Mayo has published her plan to end period poverty.

One in four Irish women have experienced period poverty in their lifetime. An EU-wide menstrual health strategy is needed to end period poverty, MEP Maria Walsh has said as she published her Plan for Periods proposal in Brussels.

Menstrual poverty affects an estimated 10% of the menstruating population in the EU, while 24% of Irish women have experienced an indicator of period poverty - rising to 35% for those between the ages of 15 and 24.

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The Fine Gael politician Walsh is a full member of the European Parliament’s Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Committee and submitted her menstrual health strategy proposal to the European Commission today.

MEP Walsh also submitted a question on the issue to Commissioners Hadja Lahbib and Olivér Várhelyi which was signed by 32 MEPs from across political groups in the European Parliament.

MEP Maria Walsh said: “Thousands of women across Ireland go without the very basic menstrual products they need, seriously undermining their personal comfort, dignity and confidence.

I know that for many, period poverty forces painful trade-offs - with women having to sacrifice essential items in order to afford menstrual care.

As the data shows, it is younger and marginalised women that are most vulnerable; 35% of Irish women between the ages of 15 and 24 have experienced period poverty in their life."

Walsh has now submitted her Plan for Periods menstrual health strategy to the European Commission. This proposal sets out a clear roadmap for the EU to eliminate, and ultimately eradicate, period poverty.

“Plan for Periods calls on the EU to carry out a range of actions in collaboration with member states. They include ensuring the zero VAT rate on period products is in place across all 27 countries, providing free products in public institutions, mandatory reporting by national authorities and creating a dedicated EU fund to support national health initiatives.

“Menstrual poverty is an issue shrouded in shame and stigma. The Plan for Periods proposal aims to break the silence, challenge taboos and finally put an end to period poverty for everyone.”

Key highlights of the Plan for Periods proposal include:

• Removal of VAT on period products across all 27 EU Member States
• Mandatory reporting and data collection by national statistical offices
• Free period products in public institutions
• EU Action Plan integrating menstrual health into EU frameworks
• EU-wide benchmarks on menstrual product access and education
• Dedicated EU fund for grassroots and national menstrual health initiatives
• Workplace guidelines for menstrual leave or flexible working arrangements
• EU-wide public awareness campaign

MEP Maria Walsh’s written question to Commissioners Hadja Lahbib and Olivér Várhelyi, signed by 32 MEPs, proposes the following questions:

How does the Commission intend to address menstrual poverty across the EU during its new mandate?
Does the European Commission intend to present an EU Menstrual Health Strategy to support Member States in tackling menstrual poverty?

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