[PASSED] Action on Period Poverty

[Tinhampton]

On the 4th of March 2023, Action on Period Poverty became GA#647!

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This proposal has been filed to the General Assembly Social Justice Board.
NOTE 2: at 1614 GMT on the 31st of January 2023, the second iteration of this proposal reached quorum with Orca and Narwhal's approval, the 63rd all told.
NOTE: at 1603 GMT on the 27th of January 2023, the first iteration of this proposal reached quorum with Aboruinianariteright's approval, the 64th all told.

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Character count: 2,256
Word count: 340

Bianca Venkman, Assistant to the Delegate-Ambassador: Put succinctly, now is the time to pounce. This particular draft is being projected onto the screen behind me, and is on your desks as well if anybody feels compelled to comment or quibble.
Lydia Anderson, third-in-line to the post of WA D-A: Now that you think about this... most of this resolution was a result of my intervention over a can of diet soda a few days ago.
OOC 1: Inspired by the Amika George/#FreePeriods saga, which began from her bedroom in 2017 and continues at her dorm at the University of Cambridge approximately two days ago...
OOC 2: One of the many reasons why I don't regret my vote for Brexit.
OOC 3: This OP is closer to the Brexit vote than it was to the date I actually submitted the draft. The "o" in "on" was decapitalised day of submission.

Action on Period Poverty
A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.

Category: Social Justice

Effect: Mild

Proposed by: Tinhampton

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Concerned that many member states have not yet acted to expand access to menstrual products, which has led to menstruating students missing out on billions of hours of education every year (which can severely affect their life prospects) and low-income menstruators often having to use ineffective substitutes or even steal menstrual products, to name just two examples, and

Recognising the need to end this travesty once and for all in developed and developing nations alike...

The General Assembly hereby:

1. mandates that:
   
   1. all hospitals in member states provide menstrual products for patients in genuine need who request them and staff,
   2. all educational establishments in member states that do not solely educate or employ non-menstruators provide menstrual products for staff and students,
   3. all employers in member states with toilet facilities which they expect to be used by menstruators provide menstrual products in those toilets for employees and customers,
   4. all other operators of public toilet facilities likely to be used by menstruators in member states provide menstrual products in those toilets,
   5. those menstrual products described in this Article be accessible, usable as intended by any menstruators foreseen to need them, free of charge, and first made available within six months of the passage of this resolution, and that
   6. locations providing menstrual products under Articles a(i-iv) also provide bins designed for the safe disposal of those products,
2. requires each member state to:
   
   1. raise awareness among its inhabitants of Article a's provisions,
   2. provide that those students receiving a curriculum which contains every element of a basic education learn about periods in terms of biology, society, and physical and mental health, and
   3. ensure that those entities within their jurisdiction described in Articles a(i-iv) comply with Article a; including by providing logistical and financial assistance to help them comply, and
3. recommends that members consider funding or otherwise supporting the provision of free and accessible menstrual supplies in other contexts, and
4. encourages members to work with civil society to end the stigmas surrounding periods.

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Previous Drafts:

Action on Period Poverty
A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.

Category: Social Justice

Effect: Mild

Proposed by: Tinhampton

---

Concerned that many member states have not yet acted to expand access to menstrual products, which has led to menstruating students missing out on billions of hours of education every year (which can severely affect their life prospects) and low-income menstruators often having to use ineffective substitutes or even steal menstrual products, to name just two examples, and

Recognising the need to end this travesty once and for all in developed and developing nations alike...

The General Assembly hereby:

1. mandates that:
   
   1. all hospitals in member states provide menstrual products for patients in genuine need who request them and staff,
   2. all educational establishments in member states that do not solely educate non-menstruators provide menstrual products for staff and students,
   3. all businesses in member states with toilet facilities open to consumers provide menstrual products in those toilets for employees and customers,
   4. all other operators of public toilet facilities in member states provide menstrual products in those toilets,
   5. those menstrual products described in this Article be accessible, usable as intended by any menstruators foreseen to need them, free of charge, and first made available within six months of the passage of this resolution, and that
   6. locations providing menstrual products under Articles a(i-iv) also provide bins designed for the safe disposal of those products,
2. requires each member state to:
   
   1. raise awareness among its inhabitants of Article a's provisions,
   2. provide that those students receiving a curriculum which contains every element of a basic education learn about periods in terms of biology, society, and physical and mental health, and
   3. ensure that those entities within their jurisdiction described in Articles a(i-iv) comply with Article a; including by providing logistical and financial assistance to help them comply, and
3. recommends that members consider funding or otherwise supporting the provision of free and accessible menstrual supplies in other contexts, and
4. encourages members to work with civil society to end the stigmas surrounding periods.

Action On Period Poverty
A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.

Category: Social Justice

Effect: Mild

Proposed by: Tinhampton

---

Concerned that those students who become ashamed about their menstruation - made fearful due to the conflict between popular opinion and scientific fact on periods - collectively miss out on billions of hours of education every year, which can severely affect their future life prospects;

Aware that many menstruating on a low income (primarily but not solely pre-menopausal women) may also be unable to afford menstrual products, often having to use ineffective non-specialist substitutes instead, or even stealing such products from elsewhere; and

Recognising the need, in highly affluent nations and less economically developed countries alike, to combat this travesty...

The General Assembly hereby:

1. defines "free menstrual supplies" (for the purposes of this resolution) as supplies of tampons, reusable cups, and other menstrual products which shall be accessible, of adequate number, and free at the point of service;
2. mandates that, in all WA members states:
   
   1. all hospitals provide free menstrual supplies, for patients in genuine need who request them and staff, within six months of the passage of this resolution;
   2. all educational establishments not catering solely to non-menstruators provide free menstrual supplies for staff and students within twelve months of the passage of this resolution; and
   3. all businesses with toilet facilities open to consumers provide free menstrual supplies, for both employees and customers, within eighteen months of the passage of this resolution;
3. further requires that the government of each WA member state shall:
   
   1. immediately embark on an educational campaign to raise awareness among their subjects of the initiatives laid out in clause (b);
   2. immediately ensure that those students receiving a curriculum which contains every element of a basic education shall learn about periods in terms of biology, society, physical health and mental health; and
   3. be held responsible for any infringements of clause (b) - as opposed to the establishments that fail to install free menstrual supplies - for the purposes of the World Assembly Compliance Commission or any of its successor committees;
4. recommends - but does not require - that members states consider their fiscal position with regards to funding charitable initiatives that support the provision of free menstrual supplies in other contexts, and towards the purchase of menstrual products by the domestic consumer; and
5. encourages the governments of members states to enter into a dialogue with civil society as to end the stigmas surrounding periods - together.

Draft 2a: as Draft 2b, but with the category of Health/Healthcare instead of SocialJustice/Mild, and without the words "enter into a" in clause (e).

Defeating Period Poverty Together
A resolution to modify universal standards of healthcare.

Category: Health

Effect: Healthcare

Proposed by: Tinhampton

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Noting that millions - perhaps even billions - of schoolgirls across the multiverse are afraid of being made ashamed by others about their menstruation, becoming fearful due to the outdated and unscientific opinions voiced by their aggressors about periods;

Concerned that these students may consistently miss out on education as a result, which can have significant knock-on effects on their future life prospects;

Aware, furthermore, that many low-income women currently find themselves unable to afford menstrual products; often having to use ineffective, non-specialist substitutes instead, or even stealing such products from elsewhere; and

Recognising the need, in highly affluent nations and less economically developed countries alike, to combat this travesty...

The General Assembly hereby:

1. defines "free menstrual supplies" (for the purposes of this resolution) as being supplies of tampons, reusable cups, and other menstrual products which shall be accessible, of adequate number, and free at the point of service;
2. mandates that, in all WA members states:
   
   1. all hospitals provide free menstrual supplies, for patients in genuine need who request them and staff, within six months of the passage of this resolution;
   2. all educational establishments provide free menstrual supplies for staff and students within twelve months of the passage of this resolution; and
   3. all other licensed places of business provide free menstrual supplies, for both employees and customers, within eighteen months of the passage of this resolution;
3. further requires that the government of each WA member state shall:
   
   1. immediately embark on an educational campaign to raise awareness among their subjects of the initiatives laid out in clause (b);
   2. immediately institute a requirement for students recieving primary and secondary education, in the course of recieving a curriculum which contains every element of a basic education, to learn about periods in terms of biology, society, physical health and mental health; and
   3. be held responsible for any infringements of clause (b) - as opposed to the establishments that fail to install free menstrual supplies - for the purposes of the World Assembly Compliance Commission or any of its successor committees;
4. recommends - but does not require - that members states consider their fiscal position with regards to funding charitable initiatives that support the provision of free menstrual supplies in other contexts, and towards the purchase of menstrual products by the domestic consumer; and
5. encourages the governments of members states to enter into a dialogue with civil society as to end the stigmas surrounding periods - together.

[Kenmoria]

“Firstly, the title does not sound like a law, more a campaign heading or poster title. Secondly, clause bii doesn’t fit for preschools and any other schools which finish far before puberty, nor does it consider cases where schools are having trouble paying utilities and staying open at all, even without the provisions in this resolution.

Clause biii is likewise extremely damaging to struggling businesses, and raises problems for how employees are meant to receive these products if all the workers work from home. In addition, clause ciii seems very punitive. How are government accountable for the actions of a ten-person school on the degree of their territory?”

[Bananaistan]

OOC: Opposed due to the author being a brexiteer Srsly though I would note that UK could have availed of a zero rate Tampon Tax in the 1970s had it chosen to do so. Ireland did and retains in at 0%.

IC: "We are concerned that b(iii) is neither feasible or desirable and is an unreasonable burden placed on businesses. For example, a corner shop might have many customers, it may even offer sanitary products for sale, and this would force them to hand free supplies to all customers, even those spending less than the cost of the supplies. Or how it might impact teleworkers.

"Also, what is a licensed place of business? Only certain regulated businesses are licensed as such in Bananaistan, EG bookmakers or publicans. The vast majority of businesses do not require a licence of any kind to engage in business. Indeed, many unincorporated business will have no direct contact with the state aside from the tax authorities."

[WayNeacTia]

Oh hell to the fucking no. The WA does not need to be legislating on tampons. Toothpaste was tried by Mahaj, and it failed.

[Tinhampton]

Lydia Anderson, third-in-line to the post of Delegate-Ambassador: As some of the people sat in this hall have seen fit to warn about, this is nowhere near perfect or complete, and I would like to clear up a few of their conceptions and misconceptions. Bianca is currently attempting to go to sleep and you will find her reading the Sentinel in the Tinhamptonian office, but she should return in time for the next batch of replies...
In response to the ambassador from Kenmoria, I am informed that the title of this proposal draft was "a political choice" on our part. With regards to clause (b), subclause (ii), some females commence the process of puberty - and thus menstruation - at an upper-single-digit age and it would be appropriate from our end to tone down this requirement to primary schools and upwards in the second draft, at best. It is also not assumed that school reserves will be used to fund this particular demand, or that governments will fail to prosecute those entities subject to any part of clause (b) as a result of not meeting their obligations in that clause.
In response to him from Bananaistan, "licensed" is Bianca's generally sloppy use of language and should be amended in our next draft.
In response to multiple objections, I am a rather fervent advocate of corporate liberties and would certainly not have agreed to clause (b), subclause (iii) as it stands if I had been told about the logicistical and red-tapey problems it would result in; we could perhaps also point the finger at Bianca's sloppy language. Alex would not, either, but he was not on duty at the time that I was consulted. This subclause will continue to undergo further stress testing, but if it does qualify for the second draft, its mandate will be reduced to businesses with toilet facilities open to consumers.
In response to that from Wayneactia, this matter goes far beyond - and is more deserving of international attention than - scrubbing your teeth with some dense fluoridey liquid for a couple of minutes ever day. Why else would I have babbled on so much about it?

(OOC: )

[Araraukar]

OOC: Tinhampton, are you a person who has a womb and has at least for some time in their life had periods? Lack of personal experience by no means makes you incapable of legislating on this, but it's quite relevant nevertheless.

[Servilis]

I am going to vote for this, should it make it to WA.

However, I suggest some gender neutrality as not all people who get periods are women.
(I'm of course referring to Enbys and Transmen and similar)

[Kenmoria]

(OOC: I know this may be seen as obstructive RP, but what about species that don’t menstruate?)

[Araraukar]

However, I suggest some gender neutrality as not all people who get periods are women.
(I'm of course referring to ... Transmen and similar)

OOC: *raises a hand*

Dropping the campaign poster wording from preamble, and using "menstruating individuals" would work. Especially as not even all women with wombs menstruate either.

[Bears Armed]

The member of this mission who's been monitoring the discussion unpacks a stamper and an ink-pad from a box that she had placed on the nearest table, inks the stamper, uses the stamper on one of the printouts of this draft that were stacked on that table, repacks the stamper & ink-pad, and takes them with her as a she leaves the chamber.

THIS IS NOT AN
INTERNATIONAL
ISSUE.

__________________________________________________________

OOC
I'm not entirely convinced about the Category, either. 'Social justice' might be more appropriate.

[Marxist Germany]

OOC: The title sounds like a campaign advert, and this doesnt need to be legislated on by the WA.

[Imperium Anglorum]

(OOC: I know this may be seen as obstructive RP, but what about species that don’t menstruate?)

You must provide typewriters upon request to anyone who wants one. Assuming no person of the species that lives on Omicron Convenience IV has ever heard of a typewriter, how many typewriters will be distributed? Will it be large?

[Kardashev III Civilization]

"As has previously been stated, this issue does not require international legislation, and is not well benefited by a proposal wearing such a..." the obelisk pauses for a few seconds, struggling to compile a statement most accurately representing its thoughts, "such a cheesy, feel-good title. Truly, if you wanted to address bodily functions such as menstruation in full, you would set member states on the path to eliminating it altogether."

[Maowi]

'I'm afraid I'll have to concur that this simply is not an issue which requires international legislation. I do have some feedback on your draft, however.

Defeating Period Poverty Together
A resolution to modify universal standards of healthcare.

Category: Health

Effect: Healthcare

Proposed by: Tinhampton

---

Noting that millions - perhaps even billions - of schoolgirls across the multiverse are afraid of being made ashamed by others about their menstruation, becoming fearful due to the outdated and unscientific opinions voiced by their aggressors about periods;

Concerned that these students may consistently miss out on education as a result, which can have significant knock-on effects on their future life prospects;

Aware, furthermore, that many low-income women currently find themselves unable to afford menstrual products; often having to use ineffective, non-specialist substitutes instead, or even stealing such products from elsewhere; and

Recognising the need, in highly affluent nations and less economically developed countries alike, to combat this travesty...

The General Assembly hereby:

1. defines "free menstrual supplies" (for the purposes of this resolution) as being supplies of tampons, reusable cups, and other menstrual products which shall be accessible, of adequate number, and free at the point of service; "being" is superfluous here and merely makes the sentence more awkward to read; I would recommend removing it
2. mandates that, in all WA members states:
   
   1. all hospitals provide free menstrual supplies, for patients in genuine need who request them and staff, within six months of the passage of this resolution; are you intentionally not including "staff" in the description as "in genuine need who request them" and if so, why?
   2. all educational establishments provide free menstrual supplies for staff and students within twelve months of the passage of this resolution; and
   3. all other licensed places of business provide free menstrual supplies, for both employees and customers, within eighteen months of the passage of this resolution;
3. further requires that the government of each WA member state shall:
   
   1. immediately embark on an educational campaign to raise awareness among their subjects of the initiatives laid out in clause (b);
   2. immediately institute a requirement for students recieving primary and secondary education, in the course of recieving a curriculum which contains every element of a basic education, to learn about periods in terms of biology, society, physical health and mental health; and in both instances here, you misspell "receiving". Also, not all member nations have a primary/secondary school system; perhaps consider less specific terminology
   3. be held responsible for any infringements of clause (b) - as opposed to the establishments that fail to install free menstrual supplies - for the purposes of the World Assembly Compliance Commission or any of its successor committees;
4. recommends - but does not require - that members states consider their fiscal position with regards to funding charitable initiatives that support the provision of free menstrual supplies in other contexts, and towards the purchase of menstrual products by the domestic consumer; and
5. encourages the governments of members states to enter into a dialogue with civil society as to end the stigmas surrounding periods - together.

'For the love of Harahmbngoni, change that title. And remove the bolding at the end.'

OOC: Also in agreement that gender neutrality would be beneficial.

[Kenmoria]

(OOC: I know this may be seen as obstructive RP, but what about species that don’t menstruate?)

You must provide typewriters upon request to anyone who wants one. Assuming no person of the species that lives on Omicron Convenience IV has ever heard of a typewriter, how many typewriters will be distributed? Will it be large?

(OOC: The legislation requires several actions, such as education, that are not mandated only when there is a demand for them.)

[Great Nortend]

OOC: Does it matter that not all people that get periods are women? None of the active clauses mention the word 'woman' or 'women'. I also wonder whether single-sex schools would be forced to provide sanitary products if they don't have any female pupils nor staff. I also really fail to see why businesses should be required to provide sanitary products to staff and customers. They're not even required to provide water to customers, or toilets, or sticking plasters, or medicines or whatever. Why sanitary products?

[Frisbeeteria]

OOC:

You were responding to an adspammer, whose post has been removed. They are, of course, not required to make sense.

[Tinhampton]

Lydia Anderson, third-in-line to the post of Delegate-Ambassador: Changes have been made on my end, given the rest of the team's unwillingness to implement them. It is the position of this delegation, however, that women's rights are human rights - and we will fight until the last to guarantee them!

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are you intentionally not including "staff" in the description as "in genuine need who request them" and if so, why?

Yes. It is assumed that hospital staff are responsible enough to use menstrual products, of their own initiative, as and when necessary.

[Bears Armed]

Lydia Anderson, third-in-line to the post of Delegate-Ambassador: Changes have been made on my end, given the rest of the team's unwillingness to implement them. It is the position of this delegation, however, that women's rights are human rights - and we will fight until the last to guarantee them!

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*<mutters something grumpily about speciesism>*

OOC
I'm still not convinced that this qualifies as Healthcare rather than as Social Justice.

[Kenmoria]

“In clause e, I suggest ‘to have dialogue’ rather than ‘to dialogue’. Other than that, this has my full support.”

[Tinhampton]

Alexander Smith, Delegate-Ambassador Thingy Thing: Sapient rights - we should have corrected that script. Any further grumbles on the official or legal side are much welcomed before this proposal is submitted at some point in the future.

(OOC: Draft 2b, now with 95% less tooling about than the previous recipe, is up.)

[Tinhampton]

I haven't abandoned this. Comments remain as welcome as they were... what, four days ago?

[Araraukar]

OOC: Migraine means not long left of viable screentime, but 1. Do you or have you OOCly actually had periods, as in, do you know what you are talking about? 2. Where the hell do you live where periods aren't taught about in school - not in sex ed but regular human biology class? and 3. All of the proposal needs some "unless already in use/done" modifier for progressive nations so that they don't need to do things twice just because the WA said so.

Also, what about pain medication especially suited for menstruation (word you should use in law text, btw) cramp pain alleviation?

Yours truly, debilitating cramp pains and massively flooding flows for 15 years before I got an IUD.

[Great Nortend]

What makes menstruation so special that goods need to be provided for free? Paracetamol isn't given out freely. Neither is water, clothing, or food, or even life-saving medicines (in general). Providing them in schools where there is a need may be reasonable, but for customers and employees? That goes too far I think.

[The New Bluestocking Homeland]

"This delegation could see supporting this bill.

"However, we would like to see amendments to b.iii. This ambassadress thinks it's too much to ask our small cafes, perhaps owned and operated by one person, to offer sanitary protection. We would suggest this be amended so that it only larger businesses -- perhaps with 50 or more staff -- have to offer this service, this incorporating larger megastores with toilets, but not penalising small business.

"The delegation also agrees with the delegation from Araraukar that c., especially, needs the suffix "unless currently done"."

OOC: Hell, yeah!