Elevating Sexual and Reproductive Rights through the Inclusion of Menstrual Health in the ICPD30 Agenda
On the 17th of April, UNFPA published their State of the World Population 2024 Report, which celebrates 30 years of progress in sexual and reproductive health (SRH), but warns against the rise of political pushback on sexual and reproductive health, rights (SRHR) and bodily autonomy. As the world prepares to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD30), it becomes increasingly crucial to shed light on the persistent challenges surrounding SRHR and bodily autonomy.
In 1994, the gathering of global leaders in Cairo marked a pivotal moment, envisioning a future where human rights, gender equality, and where access to comprehensive reproductive health services were foundational principles of action. The ICPD, with its visionary agenda, both acknowledged the interictal links between population dynamics, development goals, and individual rights and set a course for transformative action for reproductive justice. Despite the strides made since the Cairo conference, the global landscape regarding SRHR remains fraught with obstacles. A resurgence of conservatism, coupled with entrenched societal stigma and patriarchal ideologies, threatens to erode decades of progress in advancing comprehensive reproductive health care. From restrictive laws to pervasive myths, the barriers to SRHR are diverse and deeply rooted, underscoring the critical need for unwavering political commitment to drive meaningful change.
Among these challenges, menstrual health stands out as a glaringly overlooked aspect of global health and development discourse. Despite its transformative potential, menstrual health continues to be marginalised, leaving women, adolescent girls, transgender men, and non-binary people who menstruate vulnerable to a myriad of injustices. As the world gathers to mark ICPD30, it is imperative to recognise the pivotal role of menstrual health in advancing universal health coverage, gender equality, and the rights of all individuals, particularly women, adolescent girls, and gender-diverse individuals.
The Global Development Agenda
There is an urgent need for change in the global development agendas to include explicitly menstrual health concerns and their impact. Despite the historic significance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’s framework in shaping global and national-level policies for several decades, menstrual health is left as only implicit in several of the SDGs, including: SDGs 3 (health), 5 (gender equality), and 6 (water and sanitation). It was not included in the Cairo Declaration on Population Development (1994), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), or the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979). To truly address this issue, there must be a paradigm shift in global development agendas and broader high-level commitment. Leaders must prioritise and explicitly integrate menstrual health indicators and outcomes across several development areas and international policies and conventions.
Menstrual health, perimenopause, and menopause are notably absent from the CEDAW, even though it is the core human rights treaty and a revolutionary document for women. Its omission raises questions about the extent to which policymakers fully acknowledge and address the diverse needs that individuals who menstruate face throughout their lifecycle. It highlights the importance of further commitment from policymakers to recognise all facets of menstrual health, including menstrual disorders, which are essential considerations for policy recognition and commitment, especially in addressing the challenges women face in the workplace. Consequently, it is addressing menstrual health directly impacts women’s economic development and their opportunities to attain and maintain leadership roles.
The glaring absence of menstrual health in global development agendas – including the recent UNFPA report – highlights a critical gap, particularly considering the fundamental role that menstrual health plays in achieving several SDGs. By integrating menstrual health into the SDGs and other international frameworks, governments and policymakers could ensure a more holistic approach to achieving these goals. Recognising menstrual health as a fundamental component of gender equality, health, education, economic development, social justice, and sanitation efforts is essential for addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by women and individuals who menstruate worldwide. These actions have tangible implications for policy, funding allocation, and programming.
The Importance of Political Commitment
Menstrual health is a critical issue for health management, as evidenced by research conducted across the globe. In Uganda, for instance, a study conducted by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) revealed that 77% of girls miss 2 to 3 days of school due to menstrual-related challenges, affecting their education performance. Advocacy efforts by civil society organisations in Uganda are pushing for sustainable strategies and specific budgets dedicated to menstrual health and hygiene, both in and out of school.
Success is coming slowly though, with some policy progress in various countries. Some successful examples include Scotland, who became the first country in the world to make menstrual products freely available to anyone who needed them through the Period Products (Free Provision)(Scotland) Act 2021. In Mexico and Ecuador, advocacy efforts led to the elimination of taxes on menstrual products, with Mexico revising its taxation rate to 0% and Ecuador including menstrual products in the zero-tax rate as part of a COVID-19 policy in 2021. Additionally, in Japan and South Korea, women are entitled to menstrual leave, with Spain even granting paid leave for 3-5 days.
Furthermore, initiatives such as the Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Human Capital Development Project in Bangladesh and the Kenya Menstrual Hygiene Management Policy signify strides towards universal access to improved sanitation and hygiene, aligning with these countries' adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and their commitment to achieving the SDGs.
Despite these advancements, significant gaps persist, particularly for women, adolescent girls, and gender diverse individuals in rural areas in low-resource settings. This underscores the urgency for political commitment to address menstrual health comprehensively, recognising its intersectionality with education, economics, and gender equality.
Advancing menstrual health: addressing the global pushback on SRHR
As the world gathers to mark ICPD30, it is imperative to recognise the pivotal role of menstrual health in advancing universal health coverage, gender equality, and the rights of all individuals, particularly women and girls. The resurgence of conservatism and the persistence of societal stigma underscore the urgent need for unwavering political commitment to address the global pushback on sexual and reproductive health rights.
By keeping this conversation going, we are advocating for the inclusion of the rights of many of the 1.9 billion women, adolescent girls, transgender men, and non-binary people who menstruate every month and who are still experiencing significant barriers in their daily lives due to poor menstrual health, which compromises their dignity and human rights. Yet it is still not prioritised, as menstrual health is widely underfunded, under-resourced, and researched.
As we navigate the complexities of advancing menstrual health on both national and global scales, amplifying the voices of civil society advocates and activists from across the Global South becomes paramount. Their lived experiences and tireless advocacy efforts offer invaluable insights into the realities faced by menstruators worldwide, underscoring the indispensable role of political commitment in addressing menstrual health as a fundamental component of SRHR. By mobilising political will, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, and prioritising menstrual health on the global agenda, we can pave the way towards a more equitable and inclusive future for all individuals, regardless of their gender, location, disability, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
Towards the Inclusion of Menstrual Health and a Shared Global Commitment
The multi-dimensional issues faced by women, adolescent girls, and people who menstruate demand recognition and commitment from government and multilateral leaders to enact menstrual health policies at both national and global levels. These policies should address the intersectional and diverse facets of menstrual health, extending beyond healthcare to encompass intersecting issues such as work, education, economy, environment, and societal norms.
The upcoming ICPD30 offers an unparalleled opportunity for reflection and action in advancing sexual and reproductive health rights for all. As we look back on the progress made since the Cairo meeting in 1994, and confront the challenges ahead, it's essential to recommit ourselves to the principles of the ICPD agenda and extend them to include holistic menstrual health across the life course. By prioritising menstrual health, challenging stigma, and removing barriers to access, we can lay the groundwork for a more equitable future.
Let us seize this moment to ignite change, amplify voices, and drive progress towards a world where SRHR are not only recognised but respected as fundamental human rights. Menstrual health across the lifecourse must be embedded in the ICPD30 agenda so we can advance the rights of women, adolescent girls, and people that menstruate, so they can manage their periods with dignity, access the resources they need, and contribute fully to society.
References:
UNFPA (2024) Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope. Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, https://www.unfpa.org/swp2024
UNFPA (2024) International Conference on Population Development, ICPD30 | United Nations Population Fund (unfpa.org)
Murray, L., 2022. ‘Missing the point’: A conversation with Sonia Corrêa about the emergence and complexities of anti-gender politics at the intersections of human rights and health. Global Public Health, 17(11), pp.3243-3253.
Jalali, R., 2023. Global Health Priorities and the Neglect of Menstrual Health and Hygiene: The Role of Issue Attributes. Sociology of Development, 9(4), pp.317-345.
World Health Organization (2033) 50th session of the Human Rights Council Panel discussion on menstrual hygiene management, human rights and gender equality WHO statement on menstrual health and rights
UNFPA (1994) Cario Declaration on Population Development Cairo Declaration on Population & Development (unfpa.org)
United Nations (1979) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (un.org)
Martin, J., Babbar, K. and Maschette, U., 2022. Menstrual health for all requires wider high level commitment. bmj, 378.
Government of Uganda (2020) Final Report: Situational Analysis Study on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in 14 Districts of Uganda: Ministry of Education and Sports. Situational-Analysis-Study-on-MHM-in-Uganda-2020-eng.pdf (ungei.org)
Scottish Government (2021) Period Products (Free Provision)(Scotland) Act 21 Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021: Equality Impact Assessment - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Calderón-Villarreal, A., 2024. Taxing women’s bodies: the state of menstrual product taxes in the Americas. The Lancet Regional Health–Americas, 29.
Holllingsworth, J (2020) Should women be entitled to period leave? These countries think so | CNN Business
World Bank (2022) Menstrual Health and Hygiene (worldbank.org)
UNFPA (2023) Menstruating with dignity is a human right (unfpa.org)
Martin, J.S., Masinde, J., Cañizares, A., Irfan, S. and Lal, A., 2023. Menstrual health must be prioritised in global policies. BMJ, 382.
About the Organization:
Menstrual Rights Global (MRG) is committed to driving advocacy that supports the right to thrive from menarche to menopause. We are a global movement dedicated to advocating for menstrual health and equity worldwide. Founded with the mission of driving meaningful change, MRG works to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and promote access to menstrual health resources for all individuals, regardless of gender identity or socioeconomic status. Through grassroots activism, policy advocacy, and community engagement, MRG aims address the intersectional challenges faced by menstruators and advance the recognition of menstrual health as a fundamental human right.
About the Authors:
Silvia Illescas, Menstrual Rights Global, Nicaragua
Silvia Illescas is a social policy advocate focused on gender equality, human rights, and health for vulnerable populations. She is committed to advancing women's rights, SRHR, and menstrual health at local, regional, and global levels.
Arantza Rodríguez Fragoso, Menstrual Rights Global, Mexico
Arantza is a seasoned professional in international development with a strong commitment to promoting sexual and reproductive rights and gender equality. She plays a vital role in proposal development, project oversight, and logistical coordination in Latin America. Through her proactive engagement with NGOs and meticulous research, Arantza actively cultivates a culture of belonging, dignity, and justice, exemplifying her dedication through her involvement with Pandemic Periods.
Ishani Gupta, Menstrual Rights Global, India
Ishani Gupta is an editor and writer. Her published work encompasses reports, articles, academic papers, and reviews. Her experience spans more than two years in both digital and print media. Additionally, she has hands-on experience in archaeology and sister fields.
Dr Jenni Martin, Menstrual Rights Global, Scotland
Jenni has led the global menstrual health movement, Menstrual Rights Global, formerly Pandemic Periods since its inception in 2020. She continues transforming global menstrual health by elevating activists from 40 countries by offering them a platform to share their unique insights into menstrual health in their context. Jenni is a dedicated activist; she has advocated for SRH since 2014 through grassroots initiatives, research, and global programmes. She founded Women in Global Health Finland.
