The Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation, and PSI-Europe have launched Sang pour Sang Uni.e.s pour la Dignité, a consortium-led project that seeks to address the systemic drivers of menstrual discrimination in Nigeria and other eight countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
About 500 million people face menstrual discriminations that limit their capacity to live fulfilling lives due to cultures, or environments that stigmatise menstruation.
The project, which is funded by the Agence Française de Development’s Support Fund for Feminist Organisations, Equipop, Fòs Feminista, increases resources for feminist organisations that provide women, girls, and individuals with the information, services, products, infrastructure, and supportive environment to exercise their right to menstruate with dignity.
Speaking at the project launch in Abuja, the Country Director, Agence Française de Dévelopment, Xavier Muron, said that the initiative reflects the agency’s commitment to investing in mobilisation for menstrual dignity globally.
He noted that access to resources, services, and products to positively experience menstruation in a dignified, empowering, safe, and healthy manner should be a basic human right.
Muron confirmed support for the consortium in their efforts to strengthen capacities and resourcing for women’s rights and feminist organisations.
Project Lead, Equipop, Floriane Acouetey, observed that shifting menstruation from taboo to an issue for public health and rights will help break down negative menstrual beliefs.
She said the agency is working in solidarity with feminist organisations in Nigeria and other countries covered by the project that are at the forefront of the struggle to bring about a profound and lasting transformation of the patriarchal norms that stand in the way of gender equality and bodily autonomy.
Acouetey said they will support their actions to integrate menstrual dignity into public policies and ensure that this right is recognised as a fundamental human right for all.
Chief Executive Officer, Fòs Feminista,Giselle Carino, stressed that no one should be denied access to resources to safely experience menstruation or shamed for taking care of their bodies, adding that the impacts are harmful and far-reaching, from poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes to discrimination at work and school.
She said that the consortium will help to achieve a future where everyone has the right, freedom, and tools to express their bodily autonomy and make informed decisions about their health without interference from society or the government.
Founder, Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation, Radha Paudel, noted that through the consortium, they can strengthen the leadership and voice of women and girls from the global South in the call for dignified menstruation.
Paudel said: “We are excited to be in coalition with global South organisations and ensure not just an end to menstrual discrimination but a world where dignified menstruation is achieved.”
The Managing Director, PSI-Europe, Odette Hekster, said more than 35 per cent of the world population lacks the necessities to experience a healthy and safe menstruation, which is closely linked to discriminatory policies and practices that hinder access to affordable menstrual products, good healthcare, safe water and sanitation facilities.
She pointed out that the project presents novel opportunities to address these structural barriers by directly working with feminist groups and social enterprises that can advocate and promote menstrual health and dignity across various actors and sectors.
