All schools in New Zealand will be offering free sanitary products from June in order to stamp out "period poverty", the country's Prime Minister has announced.
PM Jacinda Ardern announced the move on Thursday (February 18) following a successful pilot initiative, which launched in mid-2020, the Daily Mail reports.
The pilot program provided free period products to around 3,200 young people in 15 schools.
"The positive response from schools and students to the pilot has encouraged us to expand the initiative to all New Zealand schools and kura," Ardern said, per the Independent
The scheme will set the government back USD$18 million for the next three years.
According to Ardern, one in 12 young people in New Zealand had missed school due to period poverty.
Period poverty is when those from less privileged backgrounds are unable to afford sanitary products such as tampons, pads, menstrual cups, or medication for period pain.
"Young people should not miss out on their education because of something that is a normal part of life for half the population," Ardern said, per the publication.
"Providing free period products at school is one way the government can directly address poverty, help increase school attendance, and make a positive impact on children's wellbeing."
Ardern stated that those who took part in the pilot had demonstrated better engagement at school and did better academically as a result.
This comes after Scotland became the first country in the world last year to provide free period products to anyone who needs them, as reported by the BBC.
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill passed unanimously in November.
It requires local authorities to make sure that period products are available in certain public places free of charge. Educational institutions, for example, must ensure that period products are available to students for free.
The announcement by New Zealand's Prime Minister has since received an overwhelmingly positive response on social media.
One person suggested that a similar program should be introduced in the US.
They wrote: "I wish we could do something like this here is the US. Did y'all know that at homeless shelters razors are considered essential for men but sanitary products are not considered essential for women? This has got to change."
Another person wrote: "This is such a good program but I hope that it will be extended indefinitely. There’s no indication that biology is going to change in three years."
