Scotland Becomes the First Country To Make Sanitary Products Free

Pictured above: Scottish Parliament. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

By Jocelyn Zhou ’23

Staff Writer

Scotland passed the Period Products Free Provision Bill on Nov. 25, 2020, to make sanitary products free to all who need them. 

As The New York Times reported, under this legislation, the government will set up a countrywide initiative in collaboration with local authorities to allow anyone who needs period products to get them free of charge.

The bill aims to tackle the issue of “period poverty,” which refers to the inadequate access many have to sanitary products when they need them. 

People who experience menstruation often regard it as a difficult experience because of poverty, homelessness, abusive relationships and some health conditions, according to The New York Times. Gender identity is also a barrier to access, as some transgender people cannot obtain sanitary products, especially given that they are statistically more likely to experience poverty, according to a report by the National LGBTQ Task Force. According to The Guardian, these disparities have only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I think this is great support for low-income [people] who can’t afford sanitary products,” Gerel Battogtokh ’21, an international relations major, said.

“I believe everyone who is in need of daily necessities like disposable sanitary products should have access to it,” Jamie Day ’22 said. “Making it free will stop users from having to compromise [for] their health and overall comfort.”

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill requires local authorities and education providers to ensure period products are obtainable free of charge. The bill’s financial memorandum states that “it is intended to remove any barriers which stop women, girls and trans people accessing period products.” However, it will be up to local authorities to decide how and to whom these resources are made available — a discrepancy that may allow transphobia to make this distribution inaccessible. 

According to NPR, the Scottish government has estimated the measure will cost 24 million pounds (about $32 million) a year.

After the vote, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, remarked on Twitter, “Proud to vote for this groundbreaking legislation, making Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products for all who need them. An important policy for women and girls.”

Two years ago, Scotland made another first by providing free period products in schools, colleges and universities through a government program. 

“This can be really a good example for other developed countries [on] how to help marginalized women. [The] next step would be free contraception products,” Battogtokh said.

In response to the bill’s passage, Mount Holyoke students reflected on their experience of obtaining free sanitary products in school.

“I have seen free access to sanitary products provided in the MHC bathrooms and appreciate the College’s efforts in making sanitary products available to everyone. MHC seems to be aware of the different backgrounds of each student and [evens] the [gap] in terms of availability to resources, and I admire that,” Day said. 

Presidential Impeachment in Peru

By Aditi Parashar ’22

Staff Writer

On Nov. 9, Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra was impeached by the country’s Congress following allegations of bribery during his time as governor, reported Reuters. The Congress, which is dominated by opposition members, was led by Manuel Merino, and marks their second attempt since May to oust Vizcarra. Merino,  a member of the center-right Popular Action Party who had been Congress’ head, was interim president from Nov. 10 to Nov. 15, when he resigned, reported The Guardian. Peru has now found its third president in the span of a week in Francisco Sagasti. 

The impeachment of Vizcarra, a popular centrist leader with widespread public support due to his anti-corruption reforms, brings political turmoil to Peru at a time when the nation is trying to recover from one of the worst economic recessions it has ever seen, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Al-Jazeera reports that Vizcarra rejected the accusations of corruption as  “baseless” and “false.” However, he did not challenge the decision and stated he was willing to respond to any criminal charges. 

In various cities across the country, Peruvians took to the streets in thousands following Vizcarra’s impeachment, setting off some of the largest protests the country has seen in decades, according to Reuters. Sonia Julca, an economist from the University of Callao, cited the reason for protests as, “The people are against this government led by Merino.” Protesters were found shouting slogans and carrying signs reading “Merino, you are not my president” and “Merino impostor.” Al-Jazeera found that many of the protesters waved signs that accused Congress of carrying out a coup. 

While the protests started out in a peaceful manner, by nightfall there were police clashes, leading to the deaths of two young protesters and the injury of dozens more, reported Reuters.

“I ask Mr. Merino to evaluate his immediate resignation,” said President Congress Luis Valdez after an emergency Congress session, reported Al-Jazeera. The National Assembly of Peru has also released a statement asking for Merino’s resignation, claiming that he was “politically responsible for the acts of violence.”

Following the violence with the police, all of the Cabinet ministers announced their resignations. Soon after, Merino himself resigned after only five days in power. 

Clarissa Gomez, one of many on the streets celebrating Merino’s resignation, told Reuters, “Merino has resigned because his hands are stained with blood, with the blood of our children.” 

“Merino’s resignation will be good for the turmoil Peru has seen in the last week. However, people will still not have complete confidence in Congress just yet, and a democracy cannot exist at its prime without the people believing in it. The new president has his work cut out for him,” Shanze Hasan ’21, an international relations major, said. 

After Merino’s abrupt resignation, the legislature of Peru elected Sagasti to be the new interim president. Sagasti is an industrial engineer by profession and a “member of the only political party that voted against the ousting of popular former president Martín Vizcarra a week ago,” The Guardian reported. 

Soon after his swearing-in, Sagasti said, “It is absolutely necessary to remain calm, but do not confuse this with passivity, conformity or resignation.” According to Al-Jazeera, he also paid respects to the two men who had died in the protests as a result of police brutality, saying, “We can’t bring them back to life but we can stop this from happening again.” He has also said that he is willing to include ministers from Vizcarra’s government in his Cabinet. 

Amman Syed ’22, an economics major, noted the importance of Sagasti’s willingness to include members of Vizcarra’s Cabinet. “Vizcarra’s Cabinet had star Finance Minister María Antonieta Alva. Her handling of … COVID-19 during this time of recession has been a major factor in keeping Peru from being worse off. I hope Sagasti sees that the recession Peru is facing needs someone like her to steer them in the right direction,” Syed said.