Poland initative to help women access menstrual products
Access to menstrual products is still a marker of inequality in the sense that it still remains limited for certain women. This is why the Polish city of Rzeszow, a member of the Association of Polish Cities (ZMP), joined a national project: the “Pink Box” initiative.
These boxes have been used for several years in other Polish municipalities, such as Sopot and Łódź. They are usually found in libraries, parks, public transportation centers or schools; Currently, 43 schools in Rzeszow have implemented them. The pink boxes contain several types and sizes of sanitary products, from wipes to tampons to sanitary napkins. They also contain information on menstrual health and hygiene.
These boxes can be restocked by institutions or private sponsors, in accordance with the project principle: take some if you need it, leave some if you have too much.
Period poverty is a significant problem in Poland. According to a report by the Kulczyk Foundation, almost half a million people in Poland cannot afford sanitary products. In addition, 21% of students are forced to leave school due to lack of products, while 10% of them do not leave their homes during their period.
“That’s why I decided to introduce pink boxes in Rzeszów,” explained Konrad Fijołek, the mayor of Rzeszów. The pink boxes are a positive step in supporting the health and well-being of women in Rzeszów. They show that small community initiatives can have a big impact on people’s lives for minimal cost: the budget for the pink boxes is less than 600 euros.
Gender, Diversity and Migration Officer
