100 women demand right to menstruate with dignity

Challenge

In public spaces in Uganda menstruating women often find ourselves without period-friendly toilets. Toilets indicated for ladies in most establishments where we gather for work and socializing don't have used pads or tampons disposal containers. Many of us, professional working women, for example, are forced to carry in our handbags used pads or tampons for hours, a whole day, until we get home where we can dispose of them. Moreover, we do so in our regular garbage and not an incinerator.

Solution

Generate empirical data on the extent of the problem. Use it to raise consciousness among Ugandan men and women about indignities women go through when period-friendly toilets are not provided. Convince meeting and conference organizers, as a start, to include and demand availability of period-friendly toilets before an establishment is used by them. Service providers will become consciously aware of need to provide period-friendly toilets and will do so, in order not to loose business.

Long-Term Impact

The much needed conversation on menstrual hygiene will be had which spotlights the intersectionality between menstrual products, public health and the environment. We hope this will lead to further action for the public good of ensuring proper disposal of used menstrual products, for example by incineration. This is as opposed to the current practice where they are ending up in landfills. And that advocates for re-usable pads will also necessarily advocate for access to clean water and soap.

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources

• http:/​/​www.cparuganda.com/​
• May the USHA be extended to all public spaces