Global Report on Menstrual Health Education and Period Poverty: UNICEF Ambassador Raises Awareness on World Menstrual Hygiene Day

UN Women and UNICEF are raising awareness on World Menstrual Hygiene Day about the lack of menstrual health education and resources in schools globally.

A recent report reveals that only two out of five schools worldwide provide menstrual health education, and less than one in three schools have menstrual waste bins in girls’ bathrooms. Additionally, 427 million children lack access to sanitation services that are single-sex and usable at school, with one in five schools lacking sanitation services altogether.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, actress Millie Bobby Brown, emphasized the importance of addressing the silence surrounding periods in a video statement. She expressed her dream of a world where periods do not hold people back, especially in times of war or natural disasters, where access to menstrual products and support is limited.

Ms. Brown hopes her video will bring attention to the millions of people around the world who are unable to access menstrual products and support, causing their lives to come to a stop every month. UN Women is also using World Menstrual Hygiene Day to raise awareness of period poverty and the actions needed to end it.

Period poverty is defined as the inability to afford and access menstrual products, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, leading to missed school days and dangerous health consequences for girls and women. UN Women emphasizes the importance of policies and budgets to address and end period poverty by ensuring safe sanitation services in institutions, making menstrual products more affordable, and reversing stigmas surrounding periods.

In other news, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned North Korea’s attempted launch of a military satellite using ballistic missile technology, calling on the country to adhere to its international obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions. Similarly, ongoing clashes in Sudan, particularly in El Fasher, North Darfur, have created a dire humanitarian situation, leading to displacements and lack of basic necessities for the population. OCHA and IOM are urging parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the safe passage of civilians and humanitarian aid.