Today, millions of women and girls around the world are stigmatised, excluded and discriminated against simply because they menstruate.
It’s not acceptable that because of a natural bodily function women and girls continue to be prevented from getting an education, earning an income and fully and equally participating in everyday life.
Poor menstrual hygiene caused by a lack of education, persisting taboos and stigma, limited access to hygienic menstrual products and poor sanitation infrastructure undermines the educational opportunities, health and overall social status of women and girls around the world. As a result, millions of women and girls are prevented from reaching their full potential.
Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH). More specifically, MH Day:
- Breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around MHH, and
- engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHH, at global, national and local levels.
Like other partners, Gender-Environment and Development Action would like to wish everyone a happy #MHDay. We are committed to ending the stigma around this by;
- Breaking the taboos and end the stigma surrounding menstruation.
- Raising awareness about the challenges regarding access to menstrual products, education about menstruation and period-friendly sanitation facilities.