Menstruation is still a taboo in France. Just like menopause, miscarriage, postpartum or endometriosis. To end silence and passivity, MP Albane Gaillot has just introduced a new bill on women’s menstrual health. Objective: to force government policy to take into account these issues, which affect half of the population.
After championing the extension of the abortion period to 14 weeks in the National Assembly, Albane Gaillot decided to challenge the government on another important issue of gender equality: menstrual health. The Member of Parliament for Val-de-Marne will indeed present a new draft law to parliament, to force the state to take concrete measures on the matter, as reported to miss† Goal: that the “rules, pregnancy, miscarriage or even menopause” are at the heart of public policy, and not just from a financial point of view.
†If the government is committed to combating menstrual precariousness among students, homeless women and women in prison through the provision of menstrual protection free of charge, but also to transparency in the composition of protection through compulsory posting, then I welcome measures, it is menstrual health as a whole that needs more thought for all womenin all places and at every moment of their lives, to create a society of equality.†
Albanian Gaillot, in a communicated
Think menstrual health at work, school and public places
The main aim of this bill is to improve the control of menstruation and its consequences in the workplace. So the text gives “a training obligation and opening negotiations for industry agreements” on these issues.
But that’s not all, he also defends “easy access to toilets and dispensers with menstrual protection and incontinence protection in public places.” The text also defends “free access to menstrual protection and basic hygiene for the most precarious girls and women”† According to government figures, menstrual insecurity in France affects nearly 2 million women.
To ensure an effective and comprehensive consideration of menstrual health, the bill also provides for raising awareness of these issues from primary school onwards. Finally, the creation of a “Menstrual and Sexual Health Observatory” is also being considered.
Albane Gaillot’s bill was co-signed by 22 parliamentarians from different political backgrounds. The text has just been published and it will take some time to be examined by the National Assembly.