Millions of people around the world face discrimination simply because they menstruate — limiting their participation in education, work, community, and home life. Global efforts and policies to tackle menstrual discrimination are increasing, yet predominantly focus on menstrual hygiene — overlooking a crucial human element: dignity.
At a time when menstrual health is finally gaining attention, we must ensure that dignity is integrated into menstrual health policies and programs so everyone can care for their periods safely, confidently, and without stigma.
Menstrual discrimination continues to proliferate globally. Countless stories of menstruators who have been socially excluded, teased by peers, and deprived of menstrual education remain a hard reality for many.
About the authors
Shamila Bhandari
Shamila Bhandari is a researcher and program practitioner at the Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation, a Nepal-based organization advocating for a decolonized, rights-based approach to menstruation. She produces action-oriented research intersecting gender, health, and human rights to inform policy and programs and to elevate the voices of marginalized communities.
Céline Clémence Magnéché Ndé Sika
Céline Clémence Magnéché Ndé Sika is the founder and director of AFFAMIR, a development organization in Cameroon addressing the structural causes of poverty. She is a social engineer and educator working to correct structural inequalities, with particular expertise in menstrual equity.
Kiara Sánchez
Kiara Sánchez is an advocate for advancing education, as well as menstrual health and dignity for vulnerable communities across the Dominican Republic. She is an international business student who intertwines her academic and advocacy work to ensure girls and women have the knowledge and resources they need to thrive.
Rhona MacGuire
Rhona MacGuire is a communications and advocacy specialist focusing on menstrual health and dignity at PSI Europe, an international civil society organization advancing equitable, people-centered, and locally led global health systems. She advocates for menstrual health and dignity as a human rights issue, working to shift narratives and influence policy.
