Menstrual health is a fundamental human right

Over half of the world's population experiences menstruation at some point in their lives. It is important to remember that menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is a matter concerning the health, well-being and dignity of girls and women. A landmark resolution on menstrual hygiene management, human rights and gender equality was adopted at the 56th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held in Geneva from 18 June to 12 July 2024. It highlights the essential role of MHM in advancing the human right to health and gender equality.

It specifically calls for:

• universal access: ensuring that women and girls, especially in rural and remote areas, have access to affordable, safe, and clean menstrual hygiene products and facilities;
• infrastructure improvement: providing access to adequate water and sanitation facilities in public and private spaces, including schools, to support safe MHM;
• affordability and economic support: eliminating or reducing all taxes on menstrual products and supporting those living in economic vulnerability with free or affordable options; and
• awareness raising and education: integrating MHM into relevant national policies, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes, and promote women and girls' access to appropriate and accessible information and education on MHM.

Ongoing focus on menstrual health management

Dr Márta Vargha from the Hungarian National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy and Chair of the Bureau of the Protocol on Water and Health emphasized the critical importance of menstrual hygiene: "Menstrual health is a public health and human rights issue. We have made it our mission to prioritize menstrual health in policy-making and standard setting, and to advocate for improved menstrual hygiene provisions. For many years, these have been cornerstones of our efforts under the Protocol on Water and Health. Schools are the focus of these efforts. Unfortunately, in many countries across the European Region, schoolgirls still face barriers to safe, hygienic and dignified menstruation."

All schools must be MHM-friendly. This is a non-negotiable prerequisite for creating a safe, inclusive and equitable learning environment. To prevent menstrual poverty caused by the high cost of menstrual hygiene products, it is important to make them freely available. Other key measures include providing timely and comprehensive education about puberty and menstrual health for both boys and girls, ensuring regular surveillance of menstrual hygiene provisions, maintaining adequate WASH facilities, such as clean, safe and private toilets, changing and bathing spaces, and availability of effective disposal systems for used materials. Training for teachers and school health staff must be ongoing to support and sustain these efforts.

Capacity building under the Protocol on Water and Health

WHO/Europe has been organizing a series of subregional workshops on WASH in schools under the Protocol on Water and Health. These workshops are designed to strengthen the skills and capacities of public health and education authorities on adequate WASH provisions, with a special focus on best practices for creating and maintaining adequate MHM, paired with practical tools to support national progress and encourage collaboration.

So far, over 60 health and education experts and decision-makers from 19 countries have benefited from these capacity-building opportunities, gaining valuable insights and skills to drive improvements in WASH in schools across the WHO European Region, supporting efforts to create inclusive, effective learning environments that uphold human rights and promote gender equality.