Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
When disaster strikes, emergency responders rush to provide food, water, medicine and shelter. But for millions of women and girls, one critical need is often overlooked: menstruation.
Gender justice advocates, health experts and women’s rights campaigners are calling for menstrual health and dignity to be recognised as a fundamental human right, warning that period poverty and menstrual discrimination continue to affect millions globally, especially during conflicts, climate disasters and economic crises.
Speaking during a global “SHE & Rights” session marking the International Day of Action for Women’s Health and Menstrual Hygiene,activists stressed that menstruation is not a luxury issue but a matter of dignity, equality and health.
500 Million People Face Period Poverty Every MonthAccording to advocates, an estimated 500 million people worldwide experience period poverty every month, struggling to access menstrual products, clean water, safe sanitation facilities and accurate menstrual health information.
As inflation, climate disasters and humanitarian emergencies increase globally, many families are being forced to choose between buying food and purchasing menstrual products.
“Dignified menstruation is rooted in the rights to dignity, freedom, equality and non-discrimination,” said Nepalese nurse and activist, Radha Paudel, founder of the Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation.
She argued that menstrual needs are often ignored in refugee camps, displacement centres and disaster relief operations, leaving women and girls vulnerable to health risks and indignity.
When Menstrual Products Become a LuxuryAcross Africa and Asia, advocates say rising costs are making menstrual products increasingly unaffordable.Angel Babirye, President of the African Youth and Adolescent Network East and Southern Africa, said many families now extend the use of menstrual pads beyond recommended periods or resort to unsafe alternatives due to financial hardship.
“Families are often forced to choose between buying food and buying menstrual products,” she said.Health experts warn that prolonged use of menstrual products or the use of unsafe substitutes can increase the risk of reproductive tract infections and other health complications.
The situation is also affecting education, with many girls missing school because they cannot afford menstrual products.Climate Change and Crises Hit Women HardestFrom floods in Indonesia to fires in the Philippines, advocates highlighted how climate-related disasters disproportionately affect menstruating women and girls.
“When people lose everything during disasters, underwear and menstrual products become urgent needs,” said Joie Cortina of the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights.
Yet humanitarian responses frequently overlook menstrual health, treating menstrual products as optional rather than essential. Campaigners insist that menstrual supplies should be included in emergency response packages alongside food, water and medicines.Beyond Pads: Tackling Menstrual DiscriminationAdvocates say the challenge goes beyond access to products.Menstrual discrimination including stigma, shame, exclusion and harmful cultural practices continues to reinforce gender inequality around the world.Paudel called for governments, schools and communities to address menstruation openly and ensure that policies reflect the needs of all menstruators, including persons with disabilities.”Menstruation is life-affirming, not a source of shame,” she said.A Major Shift in Women’s HealthAdvocates also welcomed the recent renaming of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS).The condition affects approximately one in eight women globally and is linked to hormonal and metabolic disorders, insulin resistance, mental health challenges and irregular menstruation.Health experts say the new name better reflects the complexity of the condition and could improve awareness, diagnosis and treatment.Call to ActionAdvocates are urging governments, humanitarian organisations, schools, healthcare institutions and development partners to:- Recognise menstrual health as a human right.- Include menstrual products in emergency and disaster-response kits.- Remove taxes and affordability barriers on menstrual products.- Expand access to clean water, sanitation and menstrual education.- Promote menstrual literacy among both girls and boys.- Strengthen policies that address period poverty and menstrual discrimination.Their message is simple: periods do not stop during wars, disasters or economic hardship and neither should efforts to protect the dignity, health and rights of those who menstruate.As countries work toward gender equality and universal health coverage, campaigners say ensuring menstrual dignity may be one of the most overlooked, yet essential, steps forward.