ePetition details

Period Poverty

We the undersigned petition the council to implement a policy for the distribution of free sanitary products to council buildings and schools.

We the undersigned petition Southwark Council to implement a policy for the distribution of free sanitary products to council buildings and schools at no charge to counter the indignity period sanitation poverty.

Period Poverty

Period poverty is defined as women and girls not being able to afford appropriate menstrual products during their period. Girls and young women are feeling stigmatised, experiencing bullying and often missing school due to not being able to afford sanitary products.

A survey commissioned by the YouGov on behalf of the Mayor of London*, in a survey of 1008 16 – 24 year old young women living in London**, found the following:

• 16% of 16 – 24 year old young women have
struggled to afford menstruation products.

• 14% have had to use items other than
menstruation products to stem their menstrual
flow (i.e. they have to improvise
menstruation towels /tampons.

• 30% changed to a less suitable sanitary product
because of cost.

• 6 % could not afford appropriate sanitary wear.

• 12% had to ask a friend to borrow sanitary
products due to being unable to afford them.

* The London Mayor's press release can be found here:
https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/tens-of-thousands-experienced-period-poverty

**The MoL estimated the population in London of this demographic is 469,500 currently estimated to be living in London.

This ePetition ran from 16/10/2018 to 01/02/2019 and has now finished.

41 people signed this ePetition.