Period Poverty Doesn’t Stop for Conflicts

In times of crisis—like during war and conflict—existing healthcare systems and resources are put under additional stress. Period products, soap, clean water and access to safe toilets can be hard to come by, especially during displacement and in areas also affected by extreme poverty. We also know that the needs of women and girls are often overlooked during emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme strategising.

• One in ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their menstrual cycle.
• In Gaza, more than 540,000 women and girls of reproductive age lack access to items to support their hygiene, health and dignity, resorting to using cloth or sponges because they cannot access menstrual products.
• In Afghanistan, our team tells us that women living in refugee camps at the Pakistan border lack clean water and period products.

Period poverty is also perpetuated by stigma and shame, which encourages low levels of vital information and education, and increases discrimination. In some areas of the world, people on their period are deemed dirty or untouchable, restricting their movement and access to spaces.

Our recent consultation, “From Asking to Action”, saw Women for Women International local staff and partners speaking to 6,500 individual women in over 14 conflict-affected contexts who are not normally reached by either aid agencies or by consultation. We found that only 25% of women affected by conflict receive essential relief and recovery aid, with this figure plummeting to a mere 10% in Afghanistan. They called for increased, flexible and direct funding to local civil society and humanitarian organisations, including women-led organisations on the ground in conflict-affected countries who provide gender-sensitive life-saving assistance. 70% of the women we spoke to requested that support be more targeted towards women and girls, specifically asking that women and girls should be involved in the design and delivery of these efforts. 

Women for Women International also educates women about their health and wellness, with a focus on women's health. Grace, a Women for Women International Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme graduate in Nigeria told us:

With the knowledge gained from the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme, I was selected for a two-week training on reusable menstrual pads.

Women for Women International's work is also fighting period poverty through local partnerships. Child Bride Solidarity is one of our partner organisations in South Sudan, supported through our Resourcing Change project, which funds Women’s Rights Organisations across the globe. As part of their mission to strengthen the voice and leadership of women in peacebuilding, they are providing menstrual hygiene management and sexual and reproductive health training in schools and distributing menstrual pads to ensure access to necessary supplies and information.

Child Bride Solidarity also involve boys in these educational initiatives, reducing stigma by raising awareness about the naturalness of menstruation and addressing harmful social norms. They have seen a reduction in bullying behaviour by boys and increased participation of both genders in discussions about menstrual management. Their initiatives have also led to a decrease in girls’ absenteeism at school due to menstrual stigma, resulting in lower dropout rates and fewer school transfers.

We know that period poverty will persist for as long as periods are deemed dirty or shameful, and for as long as there is insufficient investment in gender-sensitive programmes. For the millions of people impacted each month, this limits their freedoms, endangers their health and reduces their life-long opportunities.

Period poverty is a global issue—made worse by war and conflict—but Women for Women International's work is proof that, together, we have the power to prevent it.