FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS AT THE ENVIRONMENT CAMPUS BIRKENFELD

As of now, there is a hygiene vending machine in the restroom for female students in the central new building (ZN) on the Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld, which offers the most common hygiene products in Germany - tampons and pads. This provides all students with free access to menstrual products. The Studierendenwerk Trier supports the project work of the Green Office by purchasing and filling the vending machine.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Menstruation is an issue that affects about half of the population worldwide. At the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld this affects 776 women and thus about 36% of all students. For these students, the use of hygiene products during menstruation is as ubiquitous as the use of toilet paper or soaps. Nevertheless, menstruating individuals must take care of the supply of these products themselves.

Even though since 01.01.2020 menstrual products are taxed at 7% instead of 19%: Period products are expensive! In a survey at the University of Passau, 20% of the approximately 400 students questioned stated that they suffer from period poverty. Period poverty means that those affected do not have enough money to afford menstrual products at all times.

In Scotland, a law has already been passed requiring period products to be displayed free of charge at all schools and universities.

OUR MOTIVATION

One problem that menstruating students suffer from is that menstruation often starts unexpectedly. If you get your period in college and don't have sanitary products on site at the time, you often go home and miss lectures and the chance to get education as a result. Our goal at the Green Office is, on the one hand, to counter period poverty with this campaign and to provide affected students with the products free of charge. On the other hand, we want to destigmatize menstruation, as the topic is still shamed. Thus, we as the Green Office contribute to a normalization in dealing with the topic.

FURTHER INFORMATION AND PROJECTS AROUND THE TOPIC

Are you interested in further projects of this kind? Then you can find more projects and information about the topic here:

• Menstruation & Homelessness: www.socialperiod.org
• Menstruation products for all: www.tampagne.de
• PULS Reportage: Taboo topic menstruation - alternatives to tampons, extreme pain - and men: www.youtube.com/watch
• Film "Stigma menstruation": www.netlfix.com/title/81074663
• Menstrual Hygiene Day (English): menstrualhygieneday.org
• "Empowering Girls and Women for a better society": goldengirlsfoundation.org
• Help e.V. press release: www.help-ev.de/pressemitteilung/nomorelimits-zugang-zu-monatshygiene-staerkt-frauen-weltweit
• The Book of Days: A Diary for Women by Sabine Maier

DO YOU HAVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN?

You are welcome to send us an email: green-office(at)umwelt-campus.de

OUR SPONSOR

The vending machine is financed and filled by the Studierendenwerk Trier. Without the commitment of the Studierendenwerk the project would not be so easy to realize. Thank you for supporting the students!

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• 28.05.2022 is Menstrual Hygiene Day!