• On August 15, in Scotland, a law came into force to provide free periodic protection for the entire population.

    Schools and local authorities are obliged to provide these protections.

  • The Monegasque association She can he can would like the Principality to follow this example.

  • Since 2019, it has implemented several measures in this direction through Monarègles, in particular in the education of young girls on their first periods but also by pushing private companies to offer periodic protection to their teams.

“If there is one place where it is possible to make periodic protection free for all women, it is Monaco,” says Vibeke Brask Thomsen, president of the feminist association She can he can.

The objective may seem "big" but "when you look at the size [2 km2] and the resources of the country", it is "achievable", she insists, taking the example of Scotland which has established this measure this summer.

She is optimistic because one of the measures of the “Monarègles” initiative has just been inaugurated in the Hotel Columbus Monte-Carlo.

An “essential” initiative for “the well-being of the teams” and “very much appreciated as it was not expected”, underlines its director Victoria Stevenson.



"For the first time in the Principality, a private company is providing free pads and tampons for its employees", supports the president of the association.

She cites SBM Offshore and Club Thirty-Nine, which are two companies in which “this desire to create an inclusive work environment” has also been established.

“The town hall is also working on these themes alongside us, as well as the government, which will finance part of the project,” she adds.

Monaquoi?

"Monarègles" is an idea inspired by the "Red box project" driven by English students who wanted to collect periodic protection to redistribute it free of charge to young people in precarious situations and push the government to make it accessible to university.

“At She can he can, we want to push companies in addition to educational institutions, explains the president.

In Monaco, it's more of a societal problem than a financial problem.

Menstruation causes inequalities and is taboo.

She deplores a lack of communication and awareness around these issues.

Hence the birth of the project in 2019.

“Through our Monarègles actions, we encourage all the necessary products to be provided free of charge,” continues Vibeke Brask Thomsen.

As women, we have all experienced that moment when the “just in case” in our bag was missing.

We want to relieve one of the mental burdens of women.

She also pointed out to hotels that in the products made available to customers such as soaps or sometimes even nail files, cotton swabs or hair caps, there were never any hygienic protections.

A “first period” kit

Monarègles therefore also raises awareness for the youngest.

She can he can offers girls in 5th grade a kit with a “guide” on “knowing everything about your first period”, a pouch, sanitary napkins, distributed during a one-hour workshop.

“We will allow them to ask all the questions they want but also talk about the hormonal cycle, the influences it has on our mood, our weight, our concentration, as well as pain.

The idea is that they can be informed to know their bodies better.

“The protections offered are all “organic”, an “important” aspect to also alert on certain products which can “be toxic for our body and for the environment”, recalls the Monegasque.



The feminist association has also contacted the women's section of the Sports Association of Monaco Football Club (ASM) to meet young women and discuss with them the influence of their menstrual cycle on their performance, but also to enable them to " choose the best protections to feel comfortable in this sporting activity”.



According to her, “you have to have the courage” by “first breaking the taboo around the rules” but she “believes in it”: “The government really wants to be part of this change.

We have three companies behind us and this is just the beginning.

»

In France, such systems are being tested, particularly locally in universities and Crous.

The government allocates a budget of 5 million euros each year, mainly to associations, for this approach to combating menstrual poverty since June 2021.

World

Scotland: Periodic products available free of charge to all women

Company

Monaco: How far can progress for women's rights go in the Principality?

  • Company

  • monaco

  • Nice

  • Paca

  • Rules

  • Women