Stenhousemuir (United Kingdom) (AFP)

'A necessity': From high school to the Regional Parliament, Scottish teenage girls have campaigned relentlessly for free tampons and sanitary pads, now a reality in Scotland.

They hope to see many countries follow this example.

"All over the world, there are women who need free access to feminine hygiene products. It is really a necessity," pleads Elle-Rose Fotheringham, 17, from Larbert high school in Stenhousemuir, in central Scotland.

The teenager formed the group "Lady Business" with her classmates Meredith Rae, Tilly O'Donnell and Abby Reid, after writing an article on menstrual insecurity for the school newspaper.

The four girls have made it their mission to raise awareness, speaking in schools and even organizing a rally outside the Scottish Parliament.

On Tuesday, the latter unanimously adopted a law described as "revolutionary" by Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, aimed at making tampons and sanitary napkins available free of charge in all public buildings.

MP Monica Lennon, who introduced the bill, praised Scotland's "pioneering" role, also praising the "Lady Business" action in her speech to parliament.

She called on schools to offer, in addition to tampons and sanitary napkins, dedicated education on this issue to end the stigma surrounding periods.

"We were all delighted to have made such a big change for the world," says Elle-Rose Fotheringham.

She and her classmates filled the toilet dispensers at their school with hygiene products.

And the acts of vandalism stopped when the girls' message hit the nail on the head.

Meredith, 16, says she felt tremendous relief when the bill was passed: "We worked so hard to make it happen."

The law passed in Scotland goes further than existing initiatives in schools in England and Wales, or lowering VAT on these products in France and the United States.

In Scotland, schools, colleges and universities will have to make a range of periodic protections available free of charge in their toilets.

The Scottish Government may also compel public bodies to provide these products free of charge.

- "Pioneer" -

More than half of teenage girls (52%) skipped school because of their period according to a May 2019 survey of 1,000 teenage girls in the UK.

Activists stress that menstrual insecurity has a direct impact on girls' education, widening inequalities.

The girls of "Lady Business" had to fight to overcome the stigma surrounding periods.

"It was frustrating (...) because clearly, it is not something that should be so taboo", testifies Meredith.

“Since our beginnings we have worked, we have intervened in the classrooms and we have really seen a change in attitude, especially among young boys and maybe even older teachers.”

Elle-Rose and Meredith are now preparing to study at university.

They hope that teens will take over to talk about rules in schools, without embarrassment or shame.

Lucy Clark, 13, who recently joined "Lady Business", says she is ready to fight to lift this taboo.

“Maybe the younger ones will say + yuck, it's disgusting +. But I think it's natural,” she said.

"Girls can't help it. They need hygiene products to be healthy and happy."

© 2020 AFP