Tampons and other sanitary products should be given free to women receiving working age benefits, the Trussell Trust charity has said as the Scottish parliament held its first debate on “period poverty”. Ewan Gurr, the Scotland development officer for the trust, called on the SNP government to consider making feminine hygiene products available free to women in receipt of certain targeted benefits. On Tuesday evening she called for a “firm commitment” from the Scottish government to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the accessibility and affordability of feminine hygiene products. Gurr said the provision of free sanitary products to women on certain benefits should be seriously considered by ministers. New York City Council recently voted 49-0 to approve a measure to give women and girls in schools, prisons and homeless shelters access to feminine hygiene products, free of charge.

Source: The Guardian September 27, 2016 18:15 UTC