A new survey[1] by Canadian charity, Children Believe to mark
Menstrual Hygiene Day, May 28, has found that Canadians do not rank
menstruation as a top barrier to education, despite period poverty
causing millions to miss up to two years of school. One in six
Canadians (17 per cent)[2] have personally experienced period
poverty and this problem is far more pronounced in developing
countries where menstrual care resources are limited. Through the
new ‘Every Week Counts: Period.’ campaign, Children Believe and
Carefree
® Liners aim to promote the choices of
adolescent girls to stay in school and protect them from the many
dangers of period poverty, including sexual exploitation and early
marriage.
Period Poverty ProblemThe World Bank[i] notes that period
poverty – a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene
facilities, waste management and education – is a real crisis
affecting half a billion women and girls worldwide. With it comes
not only missed school time, but a damaging stigma, human rights
violations and even vulnerability to sexual exploitation. UNESCO[3]
reports estimate that one in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses
school during their menstrual cycle, while a study conducted in
India with 100,000 girls found that 25% of the girls aged between
10 and 19 missed school when they were on their period. By some
estimates[ii], this equals as much as 20 per cent of a given school
year and almost two years of education lost per girl. Imagine the
missed opportunities; for them, for their communities, and
globally, given that girls are an untapped solution to many of the
world's biggest issues, including climate change.
Sex in Exchange for Period ProductsDue to period poverty,
a sad reality is that many girls are reporting being asked to
exchange sex for hygiene products. “Sometimes your parents cannot
afford to give you pads, girls sometimes feel pressured to receive
money from boys to take care of themselves and the boys then expect
to get something in return,” said 16-year-old Iddisu from
Ghana.
Perhaps startlingly, Children Believe’s survey results showed
that 38 per cent of Canadians think it's likely that people who
menstruate need to exchange sex for hygiene products.
“Sadly, reports of such exchanges are true,” says Kizzy
Oladeinde, Senior Communications Officer and Lead Researcher for
the Campaign at Children Believe Canada. “However, if this is
the case for one child, it is one too many. This statistic suggests
acknowledgment of likely routine abuse. It’s time for Canadians to
help us face this reality head on and deliver crucial services and
support.”
‘Every Week Counts: Period.’ May 28 marks Menstrual
Hygiene Day and Children Believe, along with Carefree®
Liners, want Canadians to support its ‘Every Week Counts: Period.’
campaign that delivers critical hygiene kits, community programs
and menstrual health education in countries including India, Ghana
and Burkina Faso. On May 28, Carefree® will match donations for
female hygiene kits, doubling the impact and ensuring more
individuals receive the essential products they need.
“Removing barriers to education can change the world. In fact,
if every girl worldwide received 12 years of quality education,
these educated women could contribute approximately $30 trillion to
the global economy[iii], says Oladeinde. “To defend the
choices of 1.8 billion people who menstruate each month, we need to
ensure their access to hygiene, health services and education to
preserve their dignity and children’s ability to stay in school.
Two years is two too many.”
The stigma and limited supply surrounding periods and period
products in developing countries prevents many from getting the
care, education and supplies to manage their menstrual health
effectively, but with support, Children Believe’s programs will
help children to fight the stigma and take back up to two years of
education that they deserve.
Survey Reveals Canadians Shockingly Unaware of Period Poverty
PandemicThe survey found that nearly three-quarters[iv] of
Canadians realize the life-changing possibilities that can be
achieved in two years, from earning a work promotion, to starting a
business, or learning a new language, but the reality is that
millions of adolescent girls in developing countries routinely miss
one week per month, which could total two years of school due to
the period poverty pandemic.
Unfortunately, equal access to education isn’t within reach for
millions as period poverty remains one of several barriers to
education in developing countries. While Canadians can celebrate
the government mandating that essential period products be
accessible in offices, schools and businesses, the same cannot be
said for millions worldwide who face political, economic and social
issues. Thirty one per cent of respondents believed that period
products are easily available worldwide, however money and
distribution strongly impact access.
Ninety-nine per cent of Canadians believe in equal access to
education and 94 per cent understand the impact missing school for
an extended time can have on a child’s development, however it
seems that menstruation is not recognized as a leading reason. In
the survey, 51 per cent of Canadians ranked ‘illness or injury’ as
the most likely cause for children to miss school, while only one
per cent of the population ranked menstruation at the top. While
injury or illness can be sporadic, menstruation can be a painful,
uncomfortable and limiting bodily experience that affects people
who menstruate month after month. Just imagine the impact of
repeatedly missing one week in every four.
“Missing one week in four due to menstruation can cause
detrimental learning loss and create vocational setbacks for people
who menstruate through no fault of their own,” says Shirley
Chanyi, from Carefree® Canada. “Carefree®
believes these missed opportunities must be immediately addressed,
which is why we are matching hygiene kit donations and helping to
ensure Children Believe’s work reaches those in need.”
Why Canadians Should CareEducation has the power to
address some of the world’s biggest issues. Proper menstrual
hygiene can empower women and girls to lead fulfilling lives and
make an impact on society. Canadians can help break barriers so
that people who menstruate don’t have to continue sacrificing
education for a natural, biological function.
Carefree® and Children Believe are dedicated to combating
period poverty. Those who are able to donate can help by purchasing
a “Female Hygiene Kit for a Year.” To show your support and learn
how you can help make Every Week Count, sign up at
ChildrenBelieve.ca/EveryWeekCounts.
About Children Believe Children Believe works
globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what
they believe in – and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought
together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and
unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief:
creating access to education – inside and outside of classrooms –
is the most powerful tool children can use to change their
world.
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For more information or to arrange an interview with Kizzy
Oladeinde, please contact:
Erin O’Driscoll, Senior Account Manager, Strategic
Objectives Telephone: 647 232 6924Email:
eodriscoll@strategicobjectives.com
Or
Dave Stell, Communications Manager, Children BelieveTelephone:
416 898 6770Email: dstell@childrenbelieve.ca
[1] These findings are from a survey conducted by Strategic
Objectives from May 10th to May 14th, 2024, among a representative
sample of 1,500 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid
Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For
comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would
carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out
of 20.
[2] Menstrual Equity Fund Pilot”
https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/funding/menstrual-equity-fund.html
[3] Globally, periods are causing girls to be absent from
school”
https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/education/globally-periods-are-causing-girls-be-absent-school
[i]“ “Why #WeAreCommitted to improving menstrual health and
hygiene”
https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/water/why-wearecommitted-improving-menstrual-health-and-hygiene[ii]
“Menstruation as a barrier to education?”
https://healtheducationresources.unesco.org/library/documents/menstruation-barrier-education[iii]
“Missed Opportunities: The High Cost of Not Educating Girls,”
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/factsheet/2018/07/11/missed-opportunities-the-high-cost-of-not-educating-girls
[iv] These findings are from a survey conducted by Strategic
Objectives from May 10th to May 14th, 2024, among a representative
sample of 1,500 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid
Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For
comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would
carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out
of 20.
Dave Stell
Children Believe
4168986770
dstell@childrenbelieve.ca