Menstruation Matters: Innovations and Partnerships for Dignity, Health, and Opportunity

The #SheChandelier was designed by PATH to shed light on the need for more high-quality menstrual health care options for women and girls. Photo: PATH/Lippi Doshi. https://blog.path.org/2016/05/meet-a-period-piece-designed-to-bust-taboos/

Do you want to see progress on women and girls’ health, education, gender equality and other Sustainable Development Goals? Consider a common denominator: menstruation.

In low- and middle-income countries, hundreds of millions of women and girls rely on improvised materials like rags, newspaper, leaves, and cardboard during their monthly cycles. Resorting to these unsanitary methods to manage their menstruation — combined with inadequate health education, sanitation and waste disposal facilities — leads to girls missing up to five days of school every month. Cultural taboos also contribute to a culture of fear and shame around periods, which can result in negative health, education, and economic repercussions for the girl or woman, her family, community, and country.

Washington State-based organizations like Days for Girls International and PATH are on the forefront of a growing menstrual health movement to tackle this issue. With research, innovative solutions, local and global partnerships, and advocacy efforts, we are making significant progress. In honor of the fifth annual Menstrual Hygiene Day, a global celebration, knowledge-sharing and advocacy campaign, we invite you to learn more, join in the conversation, and find the intersections among our efforts.

This event will include short presentations from Sandy Clark, Days for Girls International chief development officer, and Nancy Muller, PATH senior program officer, followed by Q&A moderated by Kristen Dailey, Global Washington executive director. For more information, please contact communications@daysforgirls.org

This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is required.