Mexico passes law for free feminine hygiene products

In different parts of the world it is the law that feminine menstruation products are free for all women, whether they are sanitary napkins, tampons, pads, panty liners or menstrual cups.

During 2020, the Chamber of Deputies in Mexico discussed the initiative to eliminate taxes on all these products. However, the opinion did not have the majority of votes. This 2021, they have finally advanced in terms of the laws and have proposed the so-called Law of Dignified Menstruation and everything seems to indicate that it will already be a reality.

Mexico is moving forward

The Law of Dignified Menstruation seeks that girls and adolescents have free access to all menstrual hygiene products. With 432 votes in favor, zero against and one abstention, the Chamber of Deputies approved this new reform, or rather, article 114 of the General Law of Education on health and menstrual management.

This is only the first step so that, in the not too distant future, all women have free access to these products, which are really necessary.

There are only a few steps to make it come true

The next step is for the ruling to be discussed in the Senate and if no one refuses this reform, then only the president’s signature will be needed so that this rule is now applied throughout the country. But what does the Law of Dignified Menstruation imply?

It establishes that it corresponds exclusively to the educational authorities of all the states and of Mexico City to promote, in coordination with the corresponding health authorities, menstrual health and management through various actions, including facilitating free access to sanitary napkins. , tampons and / or menstrual cups to those who require it in public educational establishments of the basic and high school type.

The products must be free for all

Both the Ministry of Education and the educational and health authorities should distribute free of charge all the necessary products so that women do not struggle to get them while they are in their menstrual period.

The only condition is that this law will depend on the budget of each state

Even so, the Chamber of Deputies is making progress on this issue. Its objective is to build equity from the educational sector. Adela Piña, president of the Education Commission, declared that this law is fundamental.

We are fully convinced that promoting menstrual health and management, from the school level, is essential to achieve gender equality. A physiological process that all women undergo cannot represent an obstacle to exercising human rights. Pay to close the gap of inequality between women and men.

Now we just have to wait for the law to also eliminate taxes on hygiene products so that women in Mexico have a #MensesDignified.