Penny Mordaunt launches new funds to tackle period poverty globally

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Minister for Women and Equalities and Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt announced a new UK government campaign to break the silence and end period poverty globally by 2030.

In many developing countries, it is estimated that half of all women and girls are forced to use rags, grass, and paper to manage their periods. A lack of access to products and the stigma and taboo that still surrounds periods can force them to miss school or work, or even to live in isolated huts during their periods each month. In the UK, Girl Guiding UK found that 26% of girls aged 11-21 feel embarrassed talking to people about their period, and 21% had been made to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their period.

In a speech at Church House, Ms. Mordaunt announced a new campaign to end period poverty globally by 2030 which includes:

• £2 million in UK aid support, through the Department of International Development (DFID), to help organisations which are already working to stamp out period poverty around the world;
• A new advisory taskforce of government departments (including the Department of Health, Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions), manufacturers, retailers, social enterprises and charities. A pot of £250,000 funding will kickstart this work, which will also lever funding and expertise from the private sector to develop a sustainable solution to period poverty in the UK; and
• AmplifyChange has commited £1.5 million to support 54 projects working across 27 countries to help girls to manage their periods with dignity. This is part of UK aid’s ongoing support to the multi-donor fund AmplifyChange

“Empowerment starts when you are young. Girls should be able to focus on their education and their future without being worried about or embarrassed by their periods. This is a global issue. Without education, women and girls around the world won’t be able to take the steps to reach their true potential,” said Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt. 

This focus on vulnerable women and girls, at home and around the world, is part of Ms. Mordaunt’s new mission.

Original source: DFID
Published on 04 March 2019