Submitted by Pad2Go Nepal
In 2025, the global community will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). The Beijing Declaration serves as a global policy framework and blueprint for achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls worldwide. The following reccomendations have been submitted by Pad2Go as part of young feminists from across the world who are mobilising to push for bold outcomes in the Beijing+30 Political Declaration to be adopted at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in March 2025.
Background
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) have been central to global health advocacy, focusing primarily on reproductive rights and family planning. Despite significant progress driven by women’s rights movements, SRHR policies often overlook menstrual health. Frameworks like the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action do not explicitly address menstruation, assuming it falls under the broader SRHR agenda, which tends to be adult-focused and reproductive-centered. This narrow focus disproportionately affects young girls and women, particularly in the Global South, who face significant barriers such as limited access to menstrual products, inadequate sanitation, persistent taboos, and a lack of policies on menstrual justice.
The exclusion of menstrual health from global policies has far-reaching implications, impacting education, access to affordable menstrual products, and the rights of transgender men and non-binary menstruators. These issues intersect with challenges related to class, caste, digital rights, and disability. However, this gap has also sparked a powerful advocacy movement, particularly led by young women from the Global South, whose efforts have contributed to the WHO's recognition of menstruation as a public health issue and the adoption of menstrual hygiene policies by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021.
The following recommendations are based on six years of Pad2Go's work with communities across Nepal.
Recommendations for Global Policy Makers and Governments:
Incorporate Menstrual Health into SRHR Frameworks:
Explicitly include menstrual health within international frameworks, such as the Beijing Platform for Action, recognizing menstruation as a key aspect of human rights and public health.
Expand SRHR policies to encompass issues beyond family planning, integrating menstrual health education, access to products, and menstrual justice for all genders, particularly young girls, transgender men, and non-binary individuals.
Mandate Comprehensive Menstrual Education:
Ensure that school curricula globally include age-appropriate, comprehensive menstrual health education from early grades (grades 3-5), addressing both the biological and social aspects of menstruation.
Promote gender-inclusive education, engaging all students, including boys, in conversations about menstruation to reduce stigma and promote understanding.
Integrate accurate information on menstrual hygiene, product usage, and disposal practices to counteract misinformation and harmful taboos.
Guarantee Access to Menstrual Products and Facilities:
Advocate for the provision of free or affordable menstrual products in schools, prisons and Juvenile detention centers, workplaces, and public spaces, ensuring access for all, especially in marginalized communities.
Mandate the inclusion of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)-friendly facilities in all schools and workplaces, including private, accessible spaces for changing pads and proper disposal mechanisms.
Ensure that menstrual products are of good quality, and ensure local distribution systems are transparent and free from corruption.
Promote Tax Exemptions for Menstrual Products:
Urge governments to eliminate Value Added Tax (VAT) and other taxes on menstrual products to reduce financial barriers, making them more affordable and accessible.
Encourage the provision of menstrual products at subsidized or no-cost rates for vulnerable populations, including students, low-income communities, and refugees.
Encourage Investment in Sustainable and Biodegradable Products:
Advocate for the development and distribution of high-quality, biodegradable menstrual products to address environmental concerns and reduce the ecological footprint of menstrual waste.
Promote research and innovation to make sustainable menstrual products affordable, and establish recycling or safe disposal systems to minimize environmental damage from non-biodegradable products.
Strengthen National and International Advocacy for Menstrual Justice:
Support and fund grassroots advocacy efforts that highlight the intersectionality of menstrual health issues, especially in the Global South, where lived experiences of young women and marginalized communities drive the demand for change.
Ensure that menstrual health is integrated into broader human rights frameworks and is recognized as a fundamental right for all individuals who menstruate, irrespective of gender, class, or nationality.
Ensure Inclusivity for Transgender Men and Non-Binary Individuals:
Raise awareness and develop policies that address the intersectional menstrual health needs of transgender men and non-binary individuals, ensuring that they have access to the same rights, products, and facilities as cisgender individuals.
Address the Needs of People with Disabilities:
Ensure that menstrual health policies are inclusive of individuals with disabilities, providing accessible menstrual products and facilities tailored to their specific needs.
Advocate for the development of disability-friendly sanitation facilities in schools and workplaces, including accessible changing areas and proper disposal systems for used menstrual products.
Draft and Implement Laws to Eradicate Menstrual Taboos and Violations of Human Rights:
Urge governments to enact and implement laws that explicitly combat menstrual taboos, discrimination, and harmful practices, such as exclusion from education or social participation during menstruation.
Promote legal reforms to protect the rights of menstruators, ensuring that menstrual health is recognized as a fundamental human right and not subject to archaic cultural practices or stigmatization.
Address the Impact of Climate Crisis on Menstrual Health:
Recognize the intersection between climate change and menstrual health, particularly in vulnerable regions where climate exacerbated disruptions (e.g., floods, droughts, and displacement) impact access to menstrual products and sanitation facilities.
Advocate for climate-resilient policies that ensure access to menstrual products and hygiene services during climate emergencies, including the provision of menstrual health kits in disaster relief efforts.
Support research and advocacy that highlights the gendered impacts of climate change on menstruating individuals, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, ensuring that climate adaptation strategies include menstrual health as a critical component.
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