Scotland to pioneer in providing free period products

Scotland will become the first country in the world to protect the right to access free period products with a new law which is set to go into effect on August 15. 

The Scottish parliament introduced the change by unanimously passing the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act in November 2020. The legislation made it a legal right to have free access to sanitary products in public buildings, per DW.

At the time, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon praised the "groundbreaking legislation" and said it was important for women and girls.

On August 14, Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison noted that people are currently forced to make "difficult choices due to the cost of living crisis."

"Providing access to free period products is fundamental to equality and dignity, and removes the financial barriers to accessing them," Robison said.

Under the legislation, local officials and education providers are legally required to make period products available — free of charge — to anyone who needs them.