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Make menstrual health and hygiene a global priority! MenstruAction From Enthusiasm to Action #WeAreCommitted How the GIZ Staff Initiative joined the Global MHH Movement 10 Years Global MH Day 28 May 2024 Partner of
THANK YOU The GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction is delighted that Louisa Ameyo Agossivi Sedjro, First Deputy Chair of the GIZ Supervisory Board, and Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Vice Chair of the GIZ Management Board, as well as the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Bärbel Kofler, show their commitment to this important issue – together with around 700 colleagues from more than 40 countries. Louisa Ameyo Agossivi Sedjro, First Deputy Chair of the GIZ Supervisory Board 2 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024
Dr. Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (left) and Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Vice Chair of the GIZ Management Board (right) 3 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024
This brochure illustrates the journey of the GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction from its beginnings until today. Some of the successes we achieved were inspired through our exchange and joint activities. We thank all of those who contributed! It all started in 2015 with a loose collaboration between colleagues from the education, health, gender and WASH sector. In 2018 this exchange became more formalized, through a series of exchange meetings on Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH). The meetings were jointly organised by the Sector Programme Sustainable Sanitation, the Support to the Health Sector Programme in Nepal and a diverse group of dedicated colleagues. This group of colleagues and the related exchange format on MHH became the nucleus for the GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction. The multi-sectoral group organized a range of exchange meetings and networking events within and outside of GIZ. From the start the colleagues reached out to other networks such as the Global Menstrual Collective, the MHM Partner’s Alliance Nepal and the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA), to other initiatives led by organisations like UNICEF, Columbia University or the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and to change makers like the famous Indian Pad Man, Arunachalam Muruganantham. Last, but not least, the German NGO WASH United, which invented the Menstrual Hygiene (MH) Day in 2014 and has been hosting the global secretariat since then, was a key partner from the very beginning. Bringing together interested GIZ colleagues, working in different sectors and countries with prominent stakeholders around the topic from within and outside GIZ helped us in breaking the taboo around MHH and to either incorporate or strengthen MHH measures in a range of programmes and activities. The exchange helped us to be more creative and generate ideas for joint activities around the MH Day and to involve more and more colleagues from a growing range of programmes and countries. In addition, the exchange on MHH allowed for mutual learning from each other and helped spread good ideas among the colleagues involved. MHH has proven to be an intersectoral topic that needs cross fertilization between a range of approaches and perspectives including the involvement of colleagues from programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights, school health, WASH and gender equality and empowerment programmes, education, values and religion as well as waste manage- ment / circular economy. In addition, an impressive number of interested colleagues also joined the initiative and the meetings out of enthusiasm for the topic as such and despite weak or no direct work- related links to the topic. We aim at further mainstreaming the topic in the coming years and invite you to contact us and to join the initiative! After all, our work on MHH is nothing less than feminist development cooperation in practice! #WeAreCommit ted GE T IN T OUC H W I T H U S ! If you are planning an initiative linked to or focusing on MHH please contact us via: MenstruAction@giz.de We are trying to bring together all those interested in the topic and to allow for knowledge exchange and cross fertilization. We could e.g. include your initiative or idea in one of the upcoming meetings. 4 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024
G I Z G E N D E R C O M P E T I T I O N 2024: T H E 2nd P R I Z E G O E S TO… Periods@Work – Many initiatives, one goal GIZ Gender Competition 2024 Submission Categor y “Gender Mainstreaming within the Company ” https://gender-works .giz .de : https://bit .ly/3V3VZOm GIZ’s staff initiative ‘MenstruAction’ has been awarded the 2nd prize in the category ‘Gender Mainstreaming within the company’ for ‘Periods@Work – Many initiatives, one goal’, a series of measures realised in cooperation with GIZ’s Equal Opportunities Team and dedicated colleagues from Facility and Corporate Health Management. The GIZ Equal Oppor tunities Commissioners take a stand for menstrual health as par t of “Equal Health” Since 2021 the G I Z Equal O ppor tunitie s Team l aunched a number of format s to promote MHH: Two event s in the S afe Space e xchange format , including an e xchange room on the topic of mens tr ual health in the work pl ace , as well as menopause . A Teams channel around the topic of “ Equal Health” w ith information on c ycle health . Two event s on c ycle-or iented work w ith a tot al of over 1 , 5 0 0 par ticipant s and more than 2 , 20 0 v iews of the recording s . A regul ar e xchange w ith Corpor ate Health Management (CHM) and Medic al S er v ice (MED) on gender equal it y and health , including mens tr ual c ycle health and menopause . S ever al info sheet s on c ycle health – info sheet menopause and info sheet c ycle health (av ail able in G erman and Engl ish). Event on the topic of “ Menopause at the work pl ace” w ith G ood pr ac tice e xample: f ree emergenc y mens tr ual produc t s av ail able for all colleague s at the G I Z O f f ice V ietnam – A joint initiati ve by the Equal O ppor tunitie s Team together w ith the G ender Foc al Per son , Net Pham T hi Hong , and Corpor ate Health Management . S ee more good pr ac tice s f rom other G I Z countr y teams and of f ice s on page 3 . Photo: Event “Periods@Work – W hy the topic of menstruation belongs at work” on 30th May 2023 at the GIZ Representation Berlin 38 0 par ticipant s . 1. Corporate Culture Mens tru Ac tion: GI Z s t af f join the G lobal MHH Movement In 201 5 , GI Z s t af f work ing in the f ields of education , health , gender and WA SH got together to l aunch Mens tru Ac tion as company- w ide initiative . T heir shared goal w as to integr ate mens trual health and hygiene (MHH) both into their work and into GI Z’s workpl ace pr ac tice s by r aising aw arene ss , in G ermany and in par tner countr ie s , through event s , campaigns and cooper ation and e xchange w ith other internal and e x ternal ac tor s . W ith mens truation br acelet s , the movement g ather s pace In 2020 , 10 0 G I Z colleague s around the wor ld shared a pic ture of themselve s wear ing a mens tr uation br acelet (w ith 23 w hite and 5 red beads , repre senting the monthly c ycle) to make their suppor t for MHH v isible . B y 2022 , this number had al read y grow n to 70 0 . A nd it spread to other org anis ations: Welthungerhilfe (since 2021), Eng agement G lobal (since 2022) and K f W DEG colleague s (since 2023 , see photo on page 4) have al so joined the movement . A sse ssing GI Z’s period-friendline ss In May 2023 , the initiati ve conduc ted a sur vey w ith more than 8 0 0 par ticipant s on the situation and the w ishe s of a per iod-f r iendly work pl ace in HQ and in the countr y of f ice s , w ith surpr ising re sult s . T hey used the shar ing of the outcome s as oppor tunit y to create the “ Mens tr u Ac tion News”. In May 2023 , the initiati ve org anised an event “ Per iods@Work – W hy the topic of mens tr uation belong s at work ” at the G I Z Repre sent ation in Ber l in w ith colleague s f rom v ar ious areas . Speaker s included: Daniel a Spie s – G I Z Equal O ppor tunitie s Commissioner, K atr in Freit ag – S enior E xper t Facil it y Management Ber l in , Dr. A ngel a L angenkamp – G I Z G ender Commissioner. T he event s t ar ted the proce ss of : e xplor ing together w ith the Facil it y Management if and how emergenc y hyg iene produc t s c an ef f iciently be prov ided in the G I Z of f ice toilet s in G ermany. In addition , the initiati ve co-org anized a new e xchange format “ T hought L eader s C ircle – Per iods@Work ” w ith B ayer AG , S A P, UNIQLO, Ber l in-L ichtenberg and the Ins titut f ür Zy klusge sundheit . T he f ir s t discussion took pl ace in Ber l in on 1 5th November 2023. PHOTOS (FROM LEFT): Inspired by MenstruAction, 15 KfW DEG colleagues took a stand and shared a menstruation bracelet photo collage via the official DEG LinkedIn account on Menstrual Hygiene Day 2023. | Group photo after the Peer-to-Peer Session #LetsTalkPERIOD / #MenstruAction at the GIZ Gender Network Meeting in Berlin. | Sticker in one of the office toilets in Bonn, Berlin and Eschborn. GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 5
2023 M e ns t ruA c t ion Ne w s P E R I O D S @ W O R K / G I Z E D I T I O N / 1 1 . 2 0 2 3 PERIODS@WORK – MANY INITIATIVES, ONE GOAL 05/2023: MenstruAction surveys over 800 participants at GIZ HQ and in its country offices about a period-friendly workplace; the GIZ Representation Berlin stages a first Periods@Work event. https://bit.ly/3V3VZOm https://bit.ly/45C9YNO 08/2023: Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, meets MenstruAction colleagues at the BMZ Open Day Berlin. https://bit.ly/3P7ur6S 09/2023: At the occasion of the German Sustainability Days MenstruAction and the GIZ Equal Opportunities Team set up a stall in front of the GIZ canteen in Bonn to inform GIZ colleagues about sustainable MHH products. https://bit.ly/49WiM2J 11/2023: MenstruAction and the ‘Institut für Zyklusgesundheit’ jointly organise a Thought Leaders Circle – Periods@Work event in Berlin. https://bit.ly/3uVto2S M e n s t r u A c t i o n O n e g o a l , m a n y i n i t i a t i v e s In 2015 , the G IZ s ta f f in i t ia t ive Mens t ruAc t ion w a s i n t r o d u c e d w i t h a c l e a r m i s s i o n i n m i n d . E m p l o y e e s f r o m d i v e r s e s e c t o r s , i n c l u d i n g e d u c a t i o n , h e a l t h , g e n d e r , a n d W A S H (W a t e r , S a n i t a t i o n , a n d H y g i e n e ) , u n i t e d t o p r o m o t e a p o s i t i v e m e s s a g e r e g a r d i n g m e n s t r u a l h e a l t h a n d h y g i e n e ( M H H ) . T h e P e r i o d s @ w o r k c a m p a i g n r e p r e s e n t s j u s t o n e f a c e t o f t h i s b r o a d e r e f f o r t . T h r o u g h t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f s p e c i a l e v e n t s , i m p a c t f u l c a m p a i g n s , a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n s b o t h w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e o f G I Z , t h e o v e r a r c h i n g g o a l i s t o m a k e M H H a w i d e l y r e c o g n i z e d a n d a c c e p t e d i s s u e w i t h i n t h e c o m p a n y a n d i n t h e p u b l i c e y e . M e n s t r u A c t i o n – f r o m E n t h u s i a s m t o A c t i o n h t t p s : / / b i t . l y / 3 E s 9 Y 6 Q T h e s u b s t a n t i a l n u m b e r o f i n d i v i d u a l s w h o f i n d t h e m s e l v e s u n e x p e c t e d l y d e a l i n g w i t h t h e i r p e r i o d n o t o n l y r e s u l t s i n t h e l o s s o f v a l u a b l e w o r k i n g h o u r s b u t a l s o h i n d e r s t h e i r a b i l i t y t o f u l l y e n g a g e i n t h e w o r k p l a c e c o m p a r e d t o t h e i r n o n - m e n s t r u a t i n g c o l l e a g u e s . T h i s d i s p a r i t y b e c o m e s p a r t i c u l a r l y e v i d e n t w h e n i n d i v i d u a l s h a v e t o l e a v e t h e o f f i c e b e c a u s e o f t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . I n f a c t , t h i s i s t h e c a s e f o r a b o u t 3 9 % o f t h e s u r v e y r e s p o n d e n t s w h o h a v e t a k e n s i c k l e a v e d u e t o p e r i o d p a i n a t l e a s t o n c e . I t i s n o t e w o r t h y t h a t a m o n g t h o s e w h o r e p o r t e d n e v e r h a v i n g t a k e n s i c k l e a v e f o r t h i s r e a s o n , 7 0 % e x p r e s s t h a t t h e i r w o r k i s i m p a c t e d b y p e r i o d p a i n . T h i s f i n d i n g i s i n l i n e w i t h t h e r e s u l t s o f a r e c e n t c o h o r t s t u d y c o n d u c t e d i n t h e N e t h e r l a n d s , w h i c h f o u n d t h a t p r e s e n t e e i s m i s o n e o f t h e d r i v e r s o f p r o d u c t i v i t y l o s s e s d u e t o m e n s t r u a t i o n - r e l a t e d s y m p t o m s 3 . > > H a s p e r i o d p a i n e v e r i m p a c t e d y o u r w o r k ? H a v e y o u e v e r t a k e n p e r s o n a l o r s i c k l e a v e d u e t o p e r i o d p a i n ( n = 8 2 0 ) ? N o N o , b u t o p t e d f o r f l e x i b l e w o r k Y e s M a y b e & s o m e t i m e s 1 3 % 5 % 4 % N o 1 7 % 1 % Y e s 7 0 % 9 5 % 9 4 % O t h e r < 1 % n 4 7 9 2 1 1 % 3 2 0 2nd PRIZE: GIZ GENDER COMPETITION Survey across GIZ offices worldwide, 2023: 829 responses from 16 countries. E v e n t “ Pe r i o d s @ w o r k – M a k i n g t h e c a s e f o r Pe r i o d - F r i e n d l y Wo r k p l a c e s ! ” o n M a y 3 0 t h a t t h e G I Z R e p r e s e n t a t i o n B e r l i n P E R I O D S @ W O R K / M A K I N G T H E C A S E F O R P E R I O D - F R I E N D LY W O R K P L A C E S ! A l o o k i n t o o u r c o m p a n y , w i t h i n s i g h t s f r o m 8 2 9 G I Z c o l l e a g u e s ! T h i s r a i s e d a c r i t i c a l q u e s t i o n f o r t h e i n i t i a t i v e : A r e w e t a k i n g s u f f i c i e n t m e a s u r e s t o p r e v e n t t h e l o s s o f v a l u a b l e w o r k i n g h o u r s a t G I Z , a c o m p a n y As p a r t o f t h e i r e f f o r t s , t h e M e n s t r u A c t i o n i n i t i a t i v e o r g a n i z e d t h e “ P e r i o d s @ w o r k ” c o m p r i s i n g 5 1 % w o m e n ? T h e c o n d u c t e d s u r v e y g a t h e r e d a t o t a l o f e v e n t i n B e r l i n t o s h i n e a l i g h t o n M H H i s s u e s 8 2 9 r e s p o n s e s f r o m m o r e t h a n 1 6 c o u n t r i e s , w i t h i n w o r k p l a c e s a n d l e a r n f r o m o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n s c o m i n g f r o m G e r m a n y a n d c o m p a n i e s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e y c o n d u c t e d a ( 3 3 . 8 % ) , I n d o n e s i a ( 7 . 6 % ) , I n d i a ( 6 . 5 % ) , M a l a w i c o m p r e h e n s i v e s u r v e y a c r o s s G I Z o f f i c e s w o r l d - ( 6 . 5 % ) , a n d U g a n d a ( 4 . 8 % ) . A r o u n d h a l f o f t h o s e w i d e . T h e p r i m a r y o b j e c t i v e s w e r e t o u n d e r s t a n d s u r v e y e d s t a t e d t h a t t h e y g e n e r a l l y s p e n d 4 t o 5 d a y s t h e c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e g r a s s r o o t s n e e d s a w e e k i n t h e o f f i c e , f o l l o w e d b y 2 9 % w h o w o r k r e l a t e d t o MHH . F u r t h e rm o r e , t h e s u r v e y s o u g h t t o e s t i m a t e t h e e c o n o m i c i m p a c t o f n o t p r o v i d i n g i n t h e o f f i c e 2 t o 3 d a y s a w e e k . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , a s t a g g e r i n g 6 2 % o f t h e m e n s t r u a l p r o d u c t s i n G I Z o f f i c e s w o r l d w i d e . r e s p o n d e n t s r e v e a l e d e x p e r i e n c i n g u n e x p e c t e d T h e e c o n o m i c i m p a c t q u e s t i o n a r o s e a f t e r t h e p e r i o d s a t w o r k o n e t o t h r e e t i m e s a y e a r , w h i l e 2 9 % a r t i c l e “ W a r u m d i e M e n s t r u a t i o n a u f d i e A r b e i t r e p o r t e d t h a t t h i s h a p p e n s t o t h e m f o u r o r m o r e g e h ö r t ” w a s p u b l i s h e d i n t h e b u s i n e s s m a g a z i n e t i m e s a y e a r . O n l y 6 % i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h i s h a s n e v e r ‘ N e u e N a r r a t i v e ’ 1 . T h e a r t i c l e c i t e d t h e r e s u l t s o f a s t u d y , w h i c h r e v e a l e d t h a t i n a c o m p a n y w i t h a t o t a l o f 1 , 0 0 0 e m p l o y e e s , o f w h o m 4 0 0 m e n s t r u a t e o c c u r r e d t o t h e m . r e g u l a r l y , a t o t a l o f 2 , 7 5 2 w o r k i n g h o u r s c a n b e l o s t a n n u a l l y i f t h e f e m a l e e m p l o y e e s a r e s u r p r i s e d b y t h e i r p e r i o d o n l y o n c e a y e a r 2 . S u r v e y a c r o s s G I Z o f f i c e s w o r l d w i d e , 2 0 2 3 : 8 2 9 r e s p o n s e s f r o m 1 6 c o u n t r i e s . H o w m a n y t i m e s a y e a r a r e y o u u n e x p e c t e d l y s u r p r i s e d b y y o u r p e r i o d d u r i n g w o r k ( n = 8 2 9 ) ? 2 t o 3 t i m e s p e r y e a r : 4 6 . 2 % 4 o r m o r e t i m e s p e r y e a r : 2 8 . 5 % 1 t i m e p e r y e a r : 1 5 . 3 % N e v e r : 5 . 9 % O t h e r : 4 . 1 % R e s p o n s e s b y c o u n t r y # 1 2 8 0 Responses by country #1 280 How many times a year are you unexpectedly surprised by your period during work (n = 829)? 2 to 3 times: 46.2% 4 or more times: 28.5% 1 time per year: 15.3% Never: 5.9% Other: 4.1% #WeAreCommittedHow the GIZ Staff Initiative joined the Global MHH MovementPartner ofMenstruActionFrom Enthusiasm to ActionMake menstrual health and hygiene a global priority!28 May2023Global MH Day6GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024
P E R I O D S@W O R K R E L AT E D A C T I V I T I E S AT G I Z C O U N T R Y O F F I C E S In many partner countries, GIZ’s Gender Focal Persons have initiated MHH related measures. This world map highlights inspiring examples. Those marked ‘Pad’ already have menstrual products for emergencies in their office toilets, those marked ‘Menstruation Bracelet’ have begun to raise awareness and advocate for MHH and Periods@Work. GIZ COUNTRY OFFICE ALBANIA GIZ REPRESENTATION BRUSSELS GIZ C OUN T RY OF F ICE NIGERIA WORKING GROUP, P L A S T IC 4PADS INI T IAT IVE GIZ COUNTRY OFFICE MALAWI Collaborating with the NGO UFULU to combat menstrual stigma and expand women’s options. Integrating menstrual cup training into various project sessions, such as agribusiness, health, nutrition, or education, promotes body awareness and autonomy. The initiative, shared among GIZ projects, aims to reduce absenteeism due to menstruation, improve menstrual health, and empower women through knowledge- sharing in a safe, inclusive space. The workshops garnered interest within GIZ, leading to an internal workshop for interested colleagues. GIZ COUNTRY OFFICE PAKISTAN GIZ COUNTRY OFFICE NEPAL GIZ COUNTRY OFFICE INDIA GIZ COUNTRY OFFICE RWANDA GIZ COUNTRY OFFICE PHILIPPINES GIZ C OUN T RY OF F ICE Z AMBIA GIZ COUNTRY OFFICE VIETNAM Creating a menstrual-friendly workplace in Vietnam. According to the Labour Code, female employees are entitled to a daily 30-minute paid break during their menstrual period. The number of menstrual leave days is negotiated and is at least 3 working days per month. GIZ Vietnam supports this by providing sanitary napkins and tampons in the first aid kits in country and project offices. This gives colleagues easy access to free emergency supplies. This small action can have a big impact on health and well-being. In addition, GIZ Vietnam’s flexible working time policy allows menstruating people to take a break at any time. GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 7
#WeAreCommitted GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY Svenja Schulze, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development and members of the German civil society show their joint support to break the taboo around menstruation by wearing the Menstruation Bracelet. https://bit.ly/3vTXnbu Z M B © MenstruAction. PERIOD. #ichwillfair: Episode 83 ‘Vom Feld ins Regal’ Podcast: ‘Menstruation is no taboo. Period.’ https://bit.ly/48J43b7 GIZ‘s GenerationDigital! is promoting digital skills for girls and young women in supporting the roll-out of the UNICEF Oky Period Tracker App in Kenya and Tanzania. https://okyapp.info The social enterprise ApiAfrique and GIZ’s Sports4Development Africa promote gender transformative change in Senegal through a menstrual cycle tracking app and an infotainment series ‘Weerwi’ aimed at teenage girls and their families. 3 seasons (à 6 episodes) were released on YouTube, TikTok etc. with an average of 100.000 views per episode. https://bit.ly/3Uw6Zn6 https://bit.ly/42sy10R GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 20248
INVEST FOR JOBS @ WOMEN DELIVER 2023 In Africa, millions of women and girls do not have access to menstrual products even though menstrual health and hygiene hold great economic potential. However, companies are often still reluctant to invest in this area – and are therefore missing out on access to a huge target market. So, how can we strengthen companies in this sector and create good jobs in our partner countries at the same time? Birgit Pickel, Director General Africa Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Sue Coates, Deputy Director The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, Kaleab Getaneh Zewelde, CEO Mela For Her, Laura Amaya, Associate Partner Dalberg and Megan wa Mukuria, CEO ZanaAfrica, discussed the potential and challenges of the local production of menstrual products at the Women Deliver Conference 2023 in Kigali. ‘Invest for Jobs’ wants to support local, regional and international investors and companies in their ventures into this untapped market. Producing menstrual products can create good jobs, better working conditions and social protection for employees and promote local economic growth. One model example is the Ethiopian company ‘Mela for Her’, a manufacturer of reusable menstrual products. https://bit.ly/3vNqDB0 https://bit.ly/3OFFZOD ‘Invest for Jobs’ Booth at Women Deliver – a vibrant meeting place for the global MHH community, e.g. Wendy Anderson, Co-Founder and Partner at ‘The Case for Her’ (at the center). GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 9
Z M B © #LetsTalkPERIOD Fit for School used the prize it won at the GIZ Gender Competition 2022 to fund the #LetsTalkPERIOD social media campaign. It teamed up with Pia Wurtzbach (Miss Universe 2015), and with the influencer couple Kathleen Paton (Miss Eco International 2022) and Kirk Bondad (Mister World Philippines 2022) to break the stigma around menstruation. With Kirk on board, Fit for School hopes to involve more boys and men in #LetsTalkPERIOD. This will further strengthen the efforts of the Department of Education – supported by Fit for School – that have reached already 27 million learners in the Philippines with information on Menstrual Health and Hygiene, aiming to keep girls in school – the whole month, every month. www.fitforschool.international/resource/2244 https://bit.ly/3ZpcbIW #LetsTalkPERIOD is now moving on to Zambia where it teams up with the women’s national football team and to South Africa where it teams up with artists, building on the award-winning #Dance4WASH campaign mounted by Viva con Agua and GIZ’s Fit for School Africa initiative. https://bit.ly/3Tgk6Ib Meanwhile, the #LetsTalkPERIOD approach of engaging role models in awareness raising campaigns is also being used to advocate for nutrition (in Ethiopia) and for WASH in Healthcare Facilities in Nepal. https://bit.ly/3T59Z7Y https://bit.ly/3V1QYpl #LetsTalk PERIOD #LetsTalkPERIOD at the Stockholm World Water Week 2023 – watch the recoding of the Film screening and Panel discussion: https://bit.ly/4b3oYay GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202410
STATEMENTS AND TESTIMONIES BY GIZ COLLEAGUES AND KEY INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS “To jointly raise awareness around the Sustainable Development Goals is a responsibility we happily take on as influencers and role models. It’s great to advocate together with GIZ for the rights of girls and women by breaking the taboo around menstruation. #LetsTalkPERIOD” Kathleen Paton & Kirk Bondad – Miss Eco International 2022 & Mister World Philippines 2022. Goodwill Ambassadors of #LetsTalkPERIOD Campaign, Philippines “We need to break the suborn taboo of menstruation. Girls all over the world are asking for information and want to understand what happens to their body during puberty. So we created the Oky app together with girls, to have evidence-based girl-friendly answers to MHH questions at their fingertips and make learning fun.” Gerda Binder – UNICEF Senior Advisor, Gender & Technology FEMINIST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN PRACTICE “Menstrual Health and Hygiene is a topic concerning all of us! I was happy to learn about the many initiatives for MHH in different African countries. As a member of the GIZ management board, I encourage us all to understand the importance of that topic. This empowers girls and woman directly! In turn it leads to better education and employment and a better economic development, not only in Africa, but worldwide.” Anna Sophie Herken – Member of the GIZ Management Board “As a professional athlete with a public health background, I’ve seen both firsthand and through my academic endeavors how inadequate access to proper menstrual hygiene resources negatively affects us all. However, I am overjoyed to see how my generation and the next are taking the initiative to change the narrative and promote menstrual health hygiene for a happy and healthy future for all.” Inonge Kaloustian – Member of the Zambian Women’s National Football Team and a public health expert. #kickTheSTIGMA Goodwill Ambassador together with her teammates Barbra Banda and Evarine Katongo. 11 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024
2022 GIZ GENDER COMPETITION 2022: TWO MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE SUBMISSIONS TOPPED THE LIST The Regional Fit For School Programme received the first prize in the GG1 category for reaching 27 million learners with information on MHH in cooperation with the Department of Education Philippines. https://bit.ly/3uYtmar The social media campaign #NepalsMenstrualMovement was among the TOP 15 submissions – out of more than 100 entries. In a country of 30 million people, the campaign reached more than two million people with information on MHH through an innovative approach. https://bit.ly/42ZKWaB PHOTO PAGE 12, TOP, f.l.t.r.: Vice Chair of the GIZ Management Board Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven; GIZ WASH Policy Advisor Jan Schlenk; GIZ Programme Manager Dr. Bella Monse; BMZ Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Bärbel Kofler. PHOTO PAGE 13, MIDDLE, f.l.t.r.: Nepalese superstar Dayahang Rai; Nepalese superstar & Goodwill Ambassador for MHH Keki Adhikari; Cultural Attaché at the German Embassy Kathmandu Gregor Czaja; GIZ Technical Advisor Sami Pande. #Nepals Menstrual Movement GIZ Gender Award 202211monitoring reports prove that efforts have been fruitful as continuous improvement can be seen for all indicators relating to MHM. GENDER – A QUALITY FEATURE OF OUR WORKThe Fit for School program has contributed to raise awareness on menstruation and address gaps in schools through a range of initiatives. Most importantly, knowledge products were developed to provide adequate information to all learners. The materials ensure that boys are included in the narrative that MHM is not just for girls. Boys and men have a role to play and need to better understand menstruation to be able to support girls and help to fight discrimi-nation and bullying. In collaboration with the Water Policy sector program the Fit for School program developed a MHM concept for schools, which is modular, culturally adaptable and consists of primary and secondary intervention packages. AWARD WINNERIMPACTGerman Development Cooperation supports the Philippine Government in implementing a massive open online course (MOOC) on WinS including MHM. 22,500 educators have enrolled in the course between 2019 and 2021. During the school closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, an educational video on Menstrual Health featuring a cele-brity was broadcasted via TV and social media reaching a broad audience nationwide. On May 28th, the international Menstrual Hygiene Day 2021 was celebrated via an online event and several social media posts reached more than one million people. Combined, efforts led by the Fit for School program and the Philippine Department of Education helped to mainstream MHM as an integral part of the education sector and thereby kept girls in school and increased awareness of 27 million Filipino learners. CONTEXT AND INITIATIVEStigma, embarrassment and insufficient access to water, sanitation, hygiene facilities and supplies at school are challenges men-struating girls are confronted with. Increased absenteeism and lower participation of girls are some of the consequences. To counter these negative impacts on girls’ education, the Regional Fit for School Program made Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) integral to their work on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in school. In close collaboration with UNICEF and Save the Children, the Fit for School program has been supporting the Philippine Department of Education to recognize the importance of the topic and to integrate MHM into the national WASH in Schools (WinS) Program. In 2016, the Government issued the National WinS Policy which mandates schools to implement MHM interventions. Similarly, MHM was included in the Three Star Approach for WinS (UNICEF/GIZ 2013), which guides schools in incrementally improving their WinS status and serves as the framework for monitoring progress. MHM-related indica-tors include gender-segregated and female-friendly toilets, availability of sanitary pads, and access to information. From 2017 to 2021, the number of schools participating in the monitoring increased from 30,000 to 45,000, covering 93% of public schools in the country. Annual IMPROVING MENSTRUAL HEALTH THROUGH WASH IN SCHOOLS THE PHILIPPINES – AND BEYOND: REGIONAL FIT FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMGG1© GIZ 33CONTEXT AND INITIATIVEIn Nepal, millions of adolescent girls face challenges in managing their menstruation, negatively impacting their health, education and social life. The obstacles are deeply embedded in cultural beliefs about menstrua-tion and the lack of access to affordable sani-tary products as well as functional toilets. In recent years, menstrual health and hygiene has gained significant attention in Nepal. As a result of the growing momentum, the Gov-ernment of Nepal announced in 2019 that sanitary pads would be available free of charge at every public school in the country. Following an earthquake in 2015, various interventions have been implemented: an ini-tiative to set-up local production facilities of sanitary pads, the production of videos/TV radio programs, the development of a mobile app, and the construction/rehabilitation of female-friendly toilets in 17 schools. Through the support of the MHM Partner’s Alliance on the national level, the Government’s ini-#NEPALSMENSTRUALMOVEMENT IS REACHING MILLIONS THE
REACHING MILLIONS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA ‘Clicktivism’ is proving an effective tool for tackling taboos around menstruation and empowering young women around the globe. THE CHALLENGE: Improving education and increasing awareness on Menstrual Health and Hygiene. OUR SOLUTION: Engaging media personalities as Goodwill Ambassadors and using social media to reach a wider audience. Since 2021 the #LetsTalkPERIOD approach has reached more than 10 million people in Albania, Nepal and the Philippines. https://bit.ly/3yA2JYL R A K T A P A N A H C R A © “I really love the humor in all the messaging that asks us to basically just accept it, just as a fact of life. Don’t make a big deal, just accept it. Know about it, learn how to manage it and move onto bigger things – using this as an entry point for women empowerment and gender equality. So kudos to you for that!” ARCHANA PATKAR (SENIOR INDEPENDENT ADVISER TO THE EQUALITY AND RIGHTS FOR ALL PRACTICE AT UNAIDS, GENEVA) WORLD PREMIERE KEKI ADHIKARI VIDEO CLIP #NepalsMenstrualMovement T P W WORMS Exploring Innovations in Menstrual Waste Management / NEPAL 2021 KEKI ADHIKARI VIDEO CLIP Implemented by: In Cooperation with: As Partner of:: sustainable sanitation alliance #NepalsMenstrualMovement W TO MAKE A PAD in 80 Seconds / NEPAL 2021 Implemented by: In Cooperation with: As Partner of:: sustainable sanitation alliance WINNER Best National Women Film NCIFF 2022 NOMINATIONS #NepalsMenstrualMovement KEKI ADHIKARI A SHORT FILM DIRECTED BY RAJIN MAHARJAN THE CHOICE IS YOURS NEPAL 2021 Camera: Niroj Maharjan, Bikram Maharjan / Drone Operator: Suresh Kafle / Location Sound: Manoj Malakar / Production Coordinator: Mahesh Prasad Joshi, Garima Uprety / Production Manager: Sami Pande / Recording Mixer: Florian Ebrecht / Executive Producer: Dirk Gilson / Comissioning Editors: Tabea Seiz, Jan-Christoph Schlenk Implemented by: In Cooperation with: As Partner of:: sustainable sanitation alliance 50 000 REACTIONS1 MILLION VIEWS #NepalsMenstrualMovement महिनावरी सम्बन्धि नेपालको अभियान SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN NEPAL 2021/2022 3 000 COMMENTS & SHARESKEKI ADHIKARI ACTRESS, PRODUCER, GOODWILL AMBASSADOR, INFLUENCER WITH 1.5 MILLION FOLLOWERS 30 000 REACTIONS900 COMMENTS & DMs1.5 MILLION VIEWS FATMA HAXHIALIU JOURNALIST, TV-HOST, GOODWILL AMBASSADOR, INFLUENCER WITH0.3 MILLION FOLLOWERS [ POPULATION ALBANIA: 2.8 MIO ] #Let’sTalkPERIOD#Ato kanëe Emër SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ALBANIA 2022/2023 UPCOMING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN PHILIPPINES 2022/2023 PIA WURTZBACH MODEL, ACTRESS, MISS UNIVERS 2015 GOODWILL AMBASSADOR, INFLUENCER WITH13.5 MILLION FOLLOWERS ... ENERGISINGCAMPAIGNS AGAINSTMENSTRUAL TABOOSAROUND THE GLOBEYOUNGFEMALE INFLUENCERSImplemented by:INSIGHTS FROM SUCCESS STORIES IN NEPAL, ALBANIA AND THE PHILIPPINESIn Cooperation with:As Partner of:sustainablesanitationallianceImplemented by:In Cooperation with:As Partner of::sustainablesanitationalliance#NepalsMenstrualMovement TACKLING TABOOSKEKI ADHIKARI A SHORT FILMDIRECTED BYRAJIN MAHARJAN NEPAL 2021 / Camera: Niroj Maharjan, Bikram Maharjan / Drone Operator: Hari Tiwari / Location Sound: Manoj Malakar / Production Coordinator: Mahesh Prasad Joshi, Garima Uprety / Production Manager: Sami Pande / Recording Mixer: Florian Ebrecht / Executive Producer: Dirk Gilson / Comissioning Editors: Tabea Seiz, Jan-Christoph SchlenkALBANIA 2022 / Director: Fatma Haxhialiu / Director of Photography: Danjel Shahini / 2nd Camera: Gentjan Tola, Dejvis Ismolli, Guido Dervishllari / Location Sound: Juxhin Dushku, Altin Mara / Motion Design: Christine Lüdke, Thomas Kaufmann / Color Grading: Thilo von der Weppen / Re-Recording Mixer: Matthias Sänger / Social Media Manager: Irida Haxhi / Creative Consultant: Dirk Gilson / Executive Producer: Jan-Christoph Schlenk / Commissioning Editors: Dr Gabriele Lames, Dr Arne PanesarImplemented by:As Partner of:A SHORT FILM BYFA HAXIALIUTACKLING TABOOS#Ato kanëe EmërWORLD PREMIEREGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 13
#WeAreCommitted GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, showed her clear support to the global movement by posting a Menstruation Bracelet photo on MH Day. https://bit.ly/3YlqkpP https://bit.ly/3RC5ZKY “Let’s break this taboo once and for all!“ Video message by Dr. Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. https://bit.ly/3HW0aov https://bit.ly/3XZrZlp Z M B © 14 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 Z M B © #WeAre Committed „Menstruation darf kein Tabuthema sein. Wir müssen reden – und dafür sorgen, dass die Ausgrenzung und Stigmatisie- rung von Frauen und Mädchen ein Ende haben. Die Tabus und Stigmatisierung der Periode, der vielerorts mangelnde Zugang zu hygienischen Menstruationsprodukten und schlechte sanitäre Einrichtungen erschweren deutlich die Bildungs- chancen von Mädchen und Frauen, schaden ihrer Gesundheit und untergraben den allgemeinen sozialen Status von Mädchen und Frauen auf der ganzen Welt. Besonders für Frauen in Notsituationen und auf der Flucht stellt das häufig ein großes Problem dar.“ DR. BÄRBEL KOFLER, BMZ PARLAMENTARISCHE STAATSSEKRETÄRIN MH Day Event in Tirana, Albania - and launch of the GIZ MenstruAction Publication.
FEMINIST DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION IN PRACTICE: MENSTRUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE Launch event of the new GIZ publication ‘MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action: How the GIZ Staff Initiative joined the Global Menstrual Health and Hygiene Movement’. We were particularly pleased by the speech given by Dr. Angela Langenkamp, the GIZ Gender Commissioner, on Menstrual Hygiene Day 2022. What does menstruation and menstrual health/hygiene have to do with gender and with Feminist Development Cooperation? A lot, because menstruation ultimately affects all people. Humanity would no longer exist without the monthly period which occurs throughout women’s reproductive years. The time between the ages of about 14 and 44 are for many people, and not just for women, the most productive time of their lives: it is a time of education, of choosing a profession and career, and of planning one’s family – at least if one is actually given a choice and if one can freely decide. What does this mean for girls and women of reproductive age? Over the course of their lives, girls and women go through between 450 and 500 monthly periods1. This is the equivalent of roughly seven of the 30 most productive years of their lives. During these times approximately 20% of girls and women struggle with menstruation complaints: sometimes they experience pains that are as bad as an illness, yet are treated and viewed quite differently. A study cited in ‘new narrative’ magazine2 shows that, for a company with 1,000 employees, of which 400 menstruate regularly, a total of 2,752 working hours can be lost annually if female employees are unexpectedly surprised by their period just once a year. The study also shows that it costs companies an average of about $4.50 per woman per year to address this by providing menstrual hygiene products at the workplace. According to Dr. Heike Höffler, a GIZ colleague who has been volunteering for years to help girls attend school in western Kenya, it only costs 4 EUR to provide a girl with handmade sanitary napkins that she can use and re-use multiple times throughout the school year. Where menstrual hygiene products aren’t available, girls and women have been – and, in some cases, still are – categorically excluded from public life during their monthly period. Who makes these rules? Who educates young people about these matters? Who stands in the way of sex education? Who maintains and who breaks the menstruation taboo? In this context, women often hear: Don’t talk about it! // Don’t let it show. // You have to deal with it! // It should not affect your performance if you want to excel in life! // Nowadays, there are painkillers, yes, but these are not accessible, affordable and tolerable for every girl and woman. According to recent studies, approximately 500 million girls and women do not have access to menstrual products, safe sanitation facilities and water. This is not a trivial thing! Many of these girls and women stay away from school or work – not because of the pain, but because of the shame. Which woman hasn’t at least once bled through and squeezed her legs together, hoping that the blood stain would go unnoticed? This happens all over the world. And this is why we – girls and women – then withdraw from the public sphere as soon as we can. What does this have to do with Feminist Development Cooperation? A lot! if we do not actively address this structural disadvantage, we accept it as a given – even though we can do something about it. Where we cannot abolish it completely, we can at least mitigate against it. The issue concerns all of us: in our company, in our projects and programmes – not just in the field of WASH, sexual and reproductive health and education, but also in the context of employment promotion and work, displacement, migration, transitional and emergency assistance, in the field of public infrastructure… Basically everywhere where coexisting respectfully and with dignity is concerned and where we work for a future that is worth living. Recognising and breaking the taboos around physical differences is not a step backwards – it makes true gender equality possible. 1) www.aok.de/pk/magazin/koerper-psyche/organe/fakten-rund-um-die-periode 2) www.neuenarrative.de/magazin/warum-die-menstruation-auf-die-arbeit-gehoert GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 15
MenstruAction. PERIOD. Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, meets MenstruAction colleagues at the BMZ Open Day 2022 in Bonn. Some 200 GIZ colleagues contributed photos of their Menstruation Bracelet during the 2022 MH Day campaign, which was undertaken jointly with the G500 Gender Focal Persons. GIZ Malawi: Small cup, big impact – A menstrual health pilot in rural Malawi empowers women in agribusiness. https://bit.ly/3IIxKyC GIZ Albania: Mural on gender-based violence - including a Menstruation Bracelet – inaugurated in Cërrik during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. https://bit.ly/3IlzKvl Listen to me, girl, you have castles inside your bones, coronets in your heart, if he threatens you with battle, you raise him a whole war, the last time I checked, Queens cower before no man.” Queens II By: Nikita Gill GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202416
“It has been a pleasure collaborating with GIZ for creation of Special MH Day Menstruation Bracelet. Often times young women like us are merely seen as beneficiaries. However, in this collaboration, we are proud partners and active contributors for menstrual health advocacy and awareness at both global and local level. Our young team at SOCHAI is excited to work together with GIZ in the coming days as well.” Bonita Sharma – Co-Founder & CEO SOCHAI, BBC 100 Women 2019, Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Award 2020 Recipient, UNICEF Asia Pacific Youth Innovation Challenge Laureate 2016, Nepal “Half the world’s population bleeds once a month, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. Yet many girls do not go to school during their period, either to avoid stigmatisation or because appropriate sanitation facilities are missing. The Menstrual Hygiene Day helps bring attention to this often ignored issue. Right on!” Linda Engel – Project Manager, Engagement Global, Germany “Breaking the remaining taboo around menstrual health is key for establishing an inclusive workplace for all! Feminist Foreign Policy also means that we need to apply within our own organisations what we aim to contribute in our partner countries.” Dorina Heller – Junior Advisor, Client Liasion and Business Development (AGE), GIZ Germany “I am happy that more people have become interested and work on this important topic of MHH. Only about 10 years ago, my first attempts to work on this topic in connection with youth health (in Bangladesh) were rejected by colleagues at GIZ headquarters with the argument that no woman would die because of her menstruation. Well, .... does it have to be a matter of life and death if it is simply a matter of improving the quality of life for women? Yes, something has changed. Fortunately!” Dr. Paul Rückert – Global Health Expert and GIZ Programme Manager (retired), Brazil “Let‘s normalise talking about menstruation and stop holding back our full potential.” Rabia Baloch – Technical Advisor for BCC and M&E, GP Sanitation for Millions, GIZ Pakistan “Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual global event created to highlight and break the stigma around menstruation.It also provides a platform to advocate towards the urgent need for change and improved education to foster inclusion of MHM in policies, fight the stigma and enable women and girls to reach their full potential.” Doreen Mbalo – Programme Manager Strengthening Institutions for Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation in Zambia (SIWaS), GIZ Zambia “The consequences of the menstrual taboo are sometimes extreme for the women in Nepal. GIZ Nepal supports breaking the taboo in very practical terms through our programme activities. I am particularly glad that engaging national social influencers contribute to raising awareness on the issue and to encourage young girls and women in Nepal.” Alexandra Plüschke – Deputy Country Director and Programme Manager Support to the Health Sector Strategy (S2HSS), GIZ Nepal “It’s time to set-up a period friendly work place to foster equal health and opportunities.” Daniela Spies – GIZ Equal Opportunities Commissioner 17 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 17 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 “I love being part of the MenstruAction staff initiative, breaking the taboo of periods with a wonderful group of colleagues! It’s teamwork and we need everyone on board to succeed!” Theresa Rettner – Junior Gender Policy Advisor, GIZ Germany
© BMZ 2021 #ItsTimeForAction GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY The Menstruation Bracelet campaign has gained traction. In 2021 over 300 colleagues from more than 28 countries took part – including Tanja Gönner, Chair of the GIZ Management Board at that time. https://bit.ly/3vLmCLl A LinkedIn post with the photo collage from the GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction went ‘viral’ on LinkedIn with more than 25.000 views. Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (2018–2021), showed her clear support to the global movement by posting a Menstruation Bracelet photo on MH Day. https://bit.ly/3LJqjGA GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202418
“Over the past 15 years I’ve seen the movement for menstrual health and hygiene grow from a neglected issue to one that is recognised as critical for the achievement of global health and gender equality. Through our collaboration and commitment we can accelerate progress, working with those whose menstrual related needs are still being denied. It’s great to see so many colleagues from GIZ active around the world contributing to this movement through MenstruAction! All the best!” Thérèse Mahon – Regional Programme Manager South Asia, WaterAid, UK “Correlated with the moon cycle, the menstruation cycle is a natural repeating process and the period part of a woman’s reproductive health. Adequate clean toilets make sure that girls could participate also during menstruation at school teaching for the whole month – like boys. This contributes to gender equality. #letsTalkPeriod #AtokanëeEmër” Dr. Gabriele Lames – Programme Manager Customer and Performance Oriented Drinking Water and Sanitation Services, GIZ Albania “Here in Nepal, it really inspires me to see so many actors joining hands to advocate wholeheartedly for Dignified Menstruation and female empowerment.” Tabea Seiz – Head of Programs @ Welthungerhilfe Nepal “It is good that gender gains traction among the priorities of German Development Cooperation. I love to see the very practical examples with which the GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction contributes to concrete change in many partner countries and globally.” Elke Hüttner – Director of Division Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure, GIZ Germany HIG HL IG H T MH D ay 2021: m o r e th a n 10 0 GI Z c olle ague s f r om V ie t n a m join e d th e c a mp a ign w i th a Men s t r u at ion B r ac ele t ph oto . “When I started research on menstruation almost 20 years ago, there was very limited investment and public health attention to the issue. Since then, the demand for scientific evidence that can be translated into practice and policy has significantly increased, and the important work that my GIZ colleagues are doing, ranging from supporting evidence for advocacy in Nepal, to providing technical support for monitoring of MHH education interventions in partnership with the Philippines Government, is inspiring. It will be great to find new areas of collaboration going forward with the German Development Cooperation!” Dr. Marni Sommer – Professor at Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, USA “Menstrual health is directly related to our life or life of our mother, our sisters, our daughters. That’s why, we, regardless of gender, should take actions to protect our beloved ones.” Pham Thi Hong Net – Gender Specialist, GIZ Vietnam 19 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 “Humanitarian crises pose particular challenges for menstruating women. Inequalities that already exist are reinforced. Access to menstrual products and safe sanitary facilities are needed so that menstruators can experience their periods with dignity.” Ulrich Wehnert – Head of Project, SDG Initiative South Africa, GIZ South Africa
2020 #ItsTimeForAction GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction took part in the global Menstruation Bracelet campaign with selfies /photos of over 100 colleagues. The Menstruation Bracelet is a global symbol for menstruation created by MH Day. https://bit.ly/3yF2Imz ‘Menstrual Hygiene Management. Relevant, Intersectoral and on the Rise’ – GIZ as partner of SuSanA presented the revised and enlarged compilation of key resources on MHM. The publication, published by SuSanA and with a foreword by Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (2018–2021), has garnered more than 3,000 views so far. https://bit.ly/2LW3B0q Video statement by the BMZ Parliamentary State Secretary. Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (2018–2021), showed her clear support to the global movement with a video statement on MH Day. https://bit.ly/3ksJacS sustainable sanitation alliance COMPILED ON BEHALF OF SuSanA working group 7 ‘Sustainable WASH in Institutions and Gender Equality’ WITH SUPPORT FROM THE GIZ Sustainable Sanitation Programme, Germany A COMPILATION OF MHM RESOURCES. REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION 2020 MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT RELEVANT, INTERSECTORAL AND ON THE RISE Z M B © MENSTRUATIONBRACELETTHEJoin!We want YOU to show your support!> By wearing the bracelet, you’ll show that periods are nothing to hide.> More information: www.menstrualhygieneday.org> Contact: sanitation@giz.de Join!GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202420
GIZ GENDER COMPETITION 2020 Menstrual Health and Hygiene activities of GIZ’s Health Programme Nepal were among the top submissions of more than 120 entries. Article in the GIZ publication ‘Step it up for Gender Equality at GIZ and around the world’. https://bit.ly/383p9Xw #Nepals Menstrual Movement INNOVATIVE EDUCATION APPROACH: THE MENSTRUATION BRACELET The Special MH Day Edition by the young women-led nonprofit ‘Social Changemakers and Innovators’ (SOCHAI) is following a ‘matching’ model: Each of the 200 Menstruation Bracelets purchased by the GIZ staff initiative MenstruAction is matched by another RedCycle bracelet to raise awareness in Durga Higher Secondary School in Kailali District, Western Nepal. The RedCycle bracelet is developed as an educational tool to better understand the monthly menstruation cycle in an easy, innovative and fun way. www.sochai.org Step it up for Gender Equality at GIZ and around the world36CONTEXTMany restrictions surrounding menstruation in Nepal and worldwide have arisen out of deeply entrenched cultural and religious tra-ditions and beliefs. In Nepal, during men-struation, often girls and women are barred from visiting religious sites, entering the kitchen or even sleeping in their homes. Lack of or poor access to affordable menstrual products and sanitary facilities negatively impact a girls’ and womens’ health and undermine their participation in education, economic and public life and thus impacting their access to equal opportunities and rights. Research commissioned by GIZ in 2016 revealed that almost 70 per cent of girls in Nepal experienced at least one form of restric-tion during menstruation. Thus gender equality cannot be reached in Neal until menstrual restrictions are eradicated.GENDER – A QUALITY FEATURE FOR OUR WORK The Support to the Health Sector Programme worked with a range of organisations to estab-MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN IN NEPAL – MONTH AFTER MONTHBREAKING THE SILENCE AND TABOOS SURROUNDING MENSTRUAL HEALTH MANAGEMENTlish the Menstrual Health Practitioners’ Alli-ance (MHMPA) in order to respond to these menstrual restrictions and gender inequality in Nepal. Over 50 organisations are in MHMPA, including government, NGOs, academia, UN agencies and INGOs. Together they implement over 80 initiatives. Since 2016, GIZ has worked with local NGOs, to develop Training of Trainers (ToT) for teach-ers and health service providers and youth empowerment programmes on MHM and rights. In the last two years, GIZ has con-ducted ToT training for some 525 individuals across three districts in Nepal. GIZ also tar-gets male teachers and adolescent boys in their programme to empower them to reach out to their friends, fathers and communities.In 2018, with the MHMPA, GIZ organised a national consultative workshop on menstrual health management (MHM). Over 500 peo-ple attended the workshop including youth, members from the LGBTI community, gov-ernment and other key stakeholders. In May 2019, GIZ Nepal published a 60-page report on the MHM movement in Nepal. Moreover, to highlight GIZ Nepal’s work on menstrual health and gender equality, six articles have been published on BMZ’s Healthy Develop-ments. In August 2019, GIZ worked with key partners to conduct a “stakeholder mapping” of the Alliance. The MHMPA website pro-vides insights into activities and results, fact-sheets and further reading.GENDER IMPACTThe key results relate to the ways in which perspectives are changing and beliefs are adapting to the change.The Government of Nepal is developing a policy on dignified menstruation and adapting the health and science curriculum. GIZ Nepal provides technical support the government so that these policies are imple-mented fully. As of January 2020, the Gov-ernment is distributing free compostable sanitary pads to all girls in grades 6-12 attending public schools of Nepal, thus enabling them to attend school and advance their education. GIZ continues to work with women’s col-lectives to assist in the local production and distribution of biodegradable sanitary pads in four municipalities, renovating school toilets and exploring new ways to produce bio-degradable pads.© GIZSpecial Menstrual Hygiene Day Edition We provide free Redcycle Bracelet and Menstrual Counseling to an adolescent girl in rural marginalized communitieswww.sochai.org/youthfornutrition/sochai_yfn/sochai_yfnSochai Youth for NutritionGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 21
“There is growing momentum in changing narratives, taboo and norms around menstruation. This gives me hope, that one day every girl would know and deeply believe that there is nothing impure or unclean about menstruation.” Brenda Mbaga Lubang’a – Gender Advisor, GIZ Pakistan “Lack of awareness on menstrual hygiene management is indeed a physical health issue to women.” Giang Tran – Programme Component Manager Macro Economic Reform, GIZ Vietnam “The combination of pervasive patriarchal structures, feminised poverty and menstrual taboos are a form of structural violence that manifests in unequal access to power and unequal life chances in many places. It makes me hopeful that the Menstrual Hygiene Day approaches the topic with so much joy and continues to advance the destigmatizes of periods every year!” Katja Brama – Project Manager, Engagement Global, Germany “Menstrual health is a priority in the WHO European Region. Safe and inclusive education for boys and girls on menstrual hygiene and free access to WASH services and menstrual products are critical components of ensuring menstrual health across our region. We are happy to see GIZ and a growing number of partners and countries committing to tackling taboos and barriers that schoolgirls face every day.” Oliver Schmoll – Programme Manager Water and Climate, European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe “Now more than ever, it’s time to take action to break the persisting silence, stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation. Hence, let’s step up our efforts for safe menstrual health and hygiene to create a world where no one is left behind! #WeAreCommitted” Fanni Zentai – Component Manager SP Water Policy – Innovation for Resilience, GIZ Germany “I wish menstruation taboos and stigmas remain one day as myth and not reality. I wish we treat each other as equal humans all day in our life.” Keki Adhikari – Actress, Film Producer, Social Activist, Goodwill Ambassador #NepalsMenstrualMovement, Nepal “All our living, learning and working environments must be designed in a way that every menstruating person can manage their period with dignity. Water, sanitation and hygiene in schools are essential to ensure this.” Nicole Siegmund – Programme Manager Regional Fit for School Programme, GIZ Philippines “I am deeply passionate about being part of this initiative and working together with other dedicated colleagues on a common mission, which is to advocate and fight for an equal and sustainable future that leaves no one behind because of their menstruation!” Daphne Manolakos – Junior Advisor SuSanA Secretariat and SP Water Policy – Innovation for Resilience, GIZ Germany “Women are often disadvantaged by the gender- specific distribution of rights, resources, access to education and employment in rural Zambia, although they contribute extremely to agricultural production within the dominating small-scale farming system. Women’s empowerment is therefore a crucial success factor to sustainable rural development and so I support MenstruAction to fight period stigma for gender equality here and worldwide.” Sebastian Köcke – Advisor Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector, GIZ Zambia 22 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024
2019 #ItsTimeForAction GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY Event with over 100 participants at the Humboldt Forum, Berlin. At the event, the academy award-winning Netflix documentary ‘Period. End of Sentence.’ was screened and discussed by a diverse panel and the audience. https://bit.ly/3sERnzb ‘Nepal’s Menstrual Movement’ – launch of the report in Kathmandu, Nepal and Berlin, Germany. The report ‘Nepal’s Menstrual Movement’ is documenting the fantastic work of activists and a range of stakeholders in Nepal. https://bit.ly/374T5SK BMZ Parliamentary State Secretary’s Interview on MHH. Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (2018–2021), showed her clear support to the global movement through an interview which was published on social media on MH Day 2019. https://bit.ly/3l0qf9x Implemented by: In Cooperation with: NEPAL’S MENSTRUAL MOVEMENT How ‘MenstruAction’ is making life better for girls and women in Nepal — month after month 1 #MHDAY2019 #ItsTimeForAction MENSTRUATION. IMMER NOCH EIN TABUTHEMA? 28. MAI 2019 / FILM ”STIGMA MONATSBLUTUNG“ & ANSCHLIESSENDE DISKUSSION Mit Dr. Reyhan Sahin aka Lady Bitch Ray, Heike Kleen (Spiegel Online Kolumnistin, Autorin ‚Das Tage-Buch‘), Ina Jurga (Initiatorin MH Day), Cordelia Röders-Arnold (Head of Menstruation, Einhorn) und weiteren Akteuren der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. 18 bis 20 Uhr / Heilig-Geist-Kapelle der HU Spandauer Straße 1 / 10178 Berlin Unterstützt vom: Implementiert durch: O S C A R - G EW I N N E R 2 01 9 K a te g o r i e : ku r ze r D o k u m e n t a r fi l m Z M B © Technology Applicability Framework – TAF assessment of two low-cost sanitary pad machines placed in women’s collectives in Nepal. https://bit.ly/3vAJ75d sustainablesanitationallianceTECHNOLOGY APPLICABILITY FRAMEWORK // TAF ASSESSMENT LOW-COST SANITARY PAD MACHINETwo low-cost sanitary pad machines placed in women’s collectives in NepalGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 23
2018 MenstruAction: A SUMMIT ON MENSTRUAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN KATHMANDU, NEPAL More than 500 participants attended the summit hosted by GIZ and Nepal’s Menstrual Health Partner’s Alliance (MHM PA) to ensure that every girl in the country can thrive during her period. The event was organised by GIZ’s Support to the Health Sector Programme Nepal and the MHM PA with support from the GIZ Sector Programme Sustainable Sanitation and participation from the Global Programme Sanitation for Millions. https://bit.ly/39g3YSm Eine Initiative von: Menstruationshygiene in der Deutschen Akteurslandschaft (Humanitäre Hilfe & Entwicklungszusammenarbeit) Ergebnisse des Dialogforums „Menstrual Hygiene“ am 19. Juni 2018 Unter Federführung von: DIALOGUE FORUM ‘MENSTRUAL HYGIENE’ GIZ colleagues participated in the dialogue forum organised by WASH United and the German WASH Network. A range of German stakeholders came together to discuss and share experiences on how to make MHH an issue on a global level. https://bit.ly/3y3bBGf LEFT: Results of the dialogue forum ‘Menstrual Hygiene’ on 19 June 2018. RIGHT: GIZ internal exchange meetings since 2018. LEFT: Group photo with summit participants.MIDDLE LEFT: Key note speech by ‘Pad Man’Arunachalam Muruganantham.BELOW LEFT: F.l.t.r.: Dr. Sara Parker, Dr. Marni Sommer.BELOW RIGHT: F.l.t.r.: Dr. Paul Rückert,Valerie Broch Alvarez, Jan Schlenk.GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202424
#NoMoreLimits GLOBAL MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (2018–2021), showed her clear support to the global movement through her press release on MH Day. To better support the ministry in future activities a first GIZ internal exchange meeting on the topic was organised. „Wir müssen das Schweigen über das Tabu der weiblichen Menstruation brechen …“ DR. MARIA FLACHSBARTH BMZ PARLAMENTARISCHE STAATSSEKRETÄRIN (2018 BIS 2021) AUSZUG BMZ-PRESSEMITTEILUNG MH DAY 2018: „Wir müssen das Schweigen über das Tabu der weiblichen Menstruation brechen (…), Warum bleiben in manchen Ländern die Schreibtische qualifizierter Frauen einige Tage im Monat unbesetzt, verzichten Marktfrauen auf den Verkauf ihrer Waren und sind für die Gemeinschaft tagelang unsichtbar? Manchmal liegt es nur daran, dass Mädchen oder Frauen keinen Zugang zu Hygieneartikeln haben, dass getrennte Toiletten oder Waschmöglichkeiten in der Schule oder bei der Arbeit fehlen. Oder weil die Regelblutung von der Gesellschaft stigmatisiert oder mit religiösem Tabu belegt ist. Alle diese Hürden, die Mädchen und Frauen daran hindern, gleichberechtigt am Leben teilzunehmen, wollen wir mit unserer Entwicklungszusammenarbeit überwinden helfen. Sensible und geduldige Aufklärungsarbeit sind nur ein erster Schritt, praktische Unterstützung ebenso entscheidend. (…) Viele mögen es unangenehm finden, über das Thema Menstruationshygiene offen zu sprechen. Ja, das kostet Überwindung – aber nicht darüber zu sprechen, kostet Lebensperspektiven für Mädchen und Frauen. Wir können es uns aber nicht leisten, auf die Hälfte der Weltbevöl- kerung tagelang zu verzichten und sie tagelang wegen ihrer Tage auszuschließen. Deswegen lohnt es sich, dieses Tabu zu brechen.“ 2016 MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT – AN OVERVIEW OF A NEGLECTED ISSUE In 2016, GIZ as partner of the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) published the first SuSanA review on the topic of Menstrual Hygiene Management. In a cross-divisional effort, a number of GIZ colleagues contributed to the above-mentioned publication – including the Sustainable Sanitation Programme and the Regional Fit For School Programme. https://bit.ly/3ORwPgi WASH in Schools MHM – Link Collection WASH in Schools MHM – Link Collection MMeennssttrruuaall HHyyggiieennee MMaannaaggeemmeenntt –– AAnn oovveerrvviieeww ooff aa nneegglleecctteedd iissssuuee MMeennssttrruuaall HHyyggiieennee MMaannaaggeemmeenntt –– AAnn oovveerrvviieeww ooff aa nneegglleecctteedd iissssuuee Compiled on behalf of SuSanA working group 7 “Sustainable WASH in Institutions and Gender Equality” Marie Claire Lutters, Shrutha Sivakumar & Sophia Bäurle Compiled on behalf of SuSanA working group 7 “Sustainable WASH in Institutions and Gender Equality” With support from Sector Programme “Sustainable Sanitation”, GIZ, Eschborn and in cooperation with Regional Fit for School Programme, GIZ, Manila Marie Claire Lutters, Shrutha Sivakumar & Sophia Bäurle With support from Sector Programme “Sustainable Sanitation”, GIZ, Eschborn - Updated version June 2018 - and in cooperation with Regional Fit for School Programme, GIZ, Manila - Updated version June 2018 - TOP: Students in a school in the Philippines. ABOVE: SuSanA Review on MHM, first release 2016, updated edition 2018.GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 25
2015 MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN IN NEPAL – MONTH AFTER MONTH As part of the reconstruction after the devastating earthquake GIZ supported two women-led cooperatives with low-cost sanitary pad machines from the Indian Pad Man. The Sustainable Sanitation Programme and the Support to Health Sector Programme Nepal (S2HSP) strategised on the topic of menstrual health and hygiene in a cross-divisional cooperation. https://bit.ly/3vtXMz4 TOP: F.l.t.r.: Shardul Tiwari, ‘Pad Man’ Arunachalam Muruganantham, Shrutha Sivakumar, Valerie Broch Alvarez. BELOW RIGHT: Women are employed by two cooperatives to produce low-cost menstrual pads. BELOW LEFT: Low-cost sanitary pad machine. GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202426
“I have always been a steadfast feminist at heart. So, I was amazed that GIZ has its own staff initiative for this important, yet so often ignored topic. Finally breaking the stigma on menstruation, in Germany and around the world, is long overdue.” Natalie Schmitz – Advisor SP Water Policy – Innovation for Resilience, GIZ Germany “‘They’, ‘the Cycle’, ‘my things’ ...To start educating girls to know their body, we must drop euphemisms and start giving things the right name: Menstruation! #letsTalkPeriod #AtokanëeEmër” Irida Haxhi – Head of Communication at EU4Green, Western Balkans “MHM is not only about sanitary products and female-friendly toilets with plenty of water. It’s also about creating an environment where little girls when menstruating for the first time think it’s a natural phenomenon and no need to be ashamed.” Sami Pande – Technical Advisor Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Right, Support to the Health Sector Strategy, GIZ Nepal “Working on improved menstrual health and hygiene at the personal and political level improves the quality of life and future opportunities for girls and women.” Dr. Michael Köberlein – Senior Country Manager India, GIZ Germany “Fit for School focused on handwashing and toothbrushing at scale and shaped national governments WASH in Schools programming. With adding a MHH-focus we could support the DepEd Philippines to reach 27 million learners so far with MHH information materials in a short time span. #MonitoringIsTriggeringAction” Dr. Bella Monse – Programme Manager develoPPP with UNILEVER South Africa, GIZ Germany “Due to prevailing waste management practices on the household level, menstrual waste management is automatically part of the municipal solid waste management service chain, however mostly not recognised and addressed in the proper manner. In order to provide better solutions, we also need to elaborate on integrating this aspect into national quality standards for menstrual products and raw materials used to produce them, especially to enable the recovery of biodegradable and compostable fractions of generated wastes as far as possible.” Dr. Johannes Paul – Programme Manager 3RproMar, GIZ Philippines “Go with the flow, come and join forces! Let’s fight the menstruation stigma and celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day!” Jenny Misterek – Advisor for Stabilising Syria, GIZ Iraq “Why shouldn’t we talk about menstruation? It’s for us the men to learn and to listen more than tell the people what to do.” Roland Schäfer – German Ambassador to Nepal (2017-2021); German Embassy’s Facebook-Post on MH Day 2021: https://bit.ly/3yKjWPt 27 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 “My body is not dirty, shameful, or impure during menstruations. My body is a holy temple fully blooming, reminding me and to the world the extraordinary power a woman has, the greatest power of all: creating life.” Fatma Haxhialiu – Journalist and TV host. Goodwill Ambassador of #LetsTalkPERIOD Campaign, Albania
“When I started working on MHH in Nepal in 2014 it was a small activity – now I am happy to be part of a fast growing initiative formed around this taboo topic of global relevance.” Valerie Broch Alvarez – Head of Programme Strengthening the Health System and Prevention of Pandemics in Libya, GIZ Tunesia “Join us and stand up against period stigma hampering girls’ and women’s participation in education and public life and thus undermining gender equality.” Dr. Angela Langenkamp – GIZ Gender Comissioner, GIZ Germany “It was an intern who had visited the Indian Pad Man in 2015 who sparked our interest. I am excited how from then on MHH became a more and more important topic for our sector programme and beyond.” Dr. Arne Panesar – Head of Component Resilient WASH Systems, SP Water Policy – Innovation for Resilience, GIZ Germany “Period Poverty is real – and it is a scandal! Let’s work together within our projects and programmes to support menstrual health – so that half of the world population can live a regular life: 28 days every month!” Dr. Heike Höffler – Food and Nutrition Security Coordinator, GIZ Zambia “Menstrual health is a practical example through which different aspects of feminist development cooperation and the specific gender inequalities become visible.” Joachim Göske – Director of Corporate Communications, GIZ Germany “With the support of key partners like GIZ, MH Day has managed to grow into a global movement that reaches hundreds of millions of people every year. Thank you so much for your partnership! Now that Germany has a feminist development policy, it’s time to step up action and investment in MHH. Together, we can end period poverty and stigma by 2030.” Ina Jurga & Thorsten Kiefer – Intl Coordinator MH Day & CEO, WASH United, Germany HIGHL IGH T Voluntar y work by GIZ colleagues: Kenya – Dr. Heike Höf fler with her NGO Watoto: www.afrikas-starke-kinder.de “Periods don’t pause for pandemics and certainly periods don’t pause among vulnerable groups of refugees and host communities. It’s time to leave no girl and woman behind!” Nora Valenzuela Llorente – Coordinator Unidas Women‘s Network, GIZ Germany “Menstrual hygiene is not a privilege, but a human right. Without access to menstrual products, menstruators are often forced to miss school or work. As a result poverty and inequality are exacerbated.” Nabiela Farouq-Martius – Head of Section, Learning Center 1, Academy for International Cooperation, GIZ Germany 28 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 “Meeting Keki Adhikari and understanding the power of the menstruation bracelet campaign instantly made me an active member of the MenstruAction staff initiative. Let’s break the taboo together!” Karin Kortmann – Director Regional Office Germany-West, GIZ Germany
“Still today, myths, taboos and limited access to safe and hygienic menstrual products continue to complicate the lives of girls and women worldwide. MenstruAction is a fantastic initiative by GIZ employees to contribute to better care and quality of life through education.” Eva Miriam Fuchs – Berlin Office at Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) “Periods are part of our everyday lives. Discussing menstrual health openly and promoting safe menstrual hygiene can help to break down socio-cultural barriers and stigmas surrounding menstruation. Let’s talk about it!” Martha Gutierrez – Director of the Corporate Unit Evaluation and GIZ Gender Ambassador “It’s about time to bring women’s basic needs stronger into the public eye. Ensuring access to clean water and sanitation are not just human rights – they are also a fundamental aspects of menstrual health. We all need to play our part – in our projects and beyond – to empower women and girls to manage their periods with dignity and safety!” Anke Peine-Ellis – Cluster Coordinator for the Water and Energy Cluster, GIZ Zambia “Menstrual health is also being affected by the impacts of climate change. The rise in extreme weather events like droughts and floods interrupts access to fresh water sources and sanitation facilities, with serious consequences for public health, but particularly for women and girls. Climate impacts are not gender neutral! Period.” Dr. Alexander Erlewein – Team Leader Climate Change Adaptation, GIZ Germany “German comedian Caroline Kebekus said in her show: ‘You could send a tampon across the room and no one would notice.’ It’s time to throw the shame that women feel about their menstruation overboard.” Irene Genzmer – GIZ Gender Commissioner, GIZ Germany “Helping to make menstruation a fact of life rather than a taboo is important to me. It’s a step towards empowering individuals to embrace their bodies without shame or stigma. Together, let’s create a supportive environment where everyone can manage their periods with ease and confidence.” Aissa Giering – Communications Specialist, Property Division ELVIS, GIZ Germany “It feels great to see an initiative that started out with just a few colleagues develop into a GIZ staff initiative that has become more and more diverse and impactful.” Jan Schlenk – Advisor SP Water Policy – Innovation for Resilience, GIZ Germany 29 GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 “Walk the Talk of Feminist Development Policy! When our advocacy for feminist development policy abroad isn‘t mirrored in our organizational structures regarding menstrual health and hygiene, our credibility falters. Let‘s align our actions with our principles, ensuring we ‘walk the talk’ both internally and externally. ” Alaha Safdari – Project Manager, GP Decent Work for a Just Transition, GIZ Germany
Attaining and maintaining Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) is essential for the human rights of women, girls, LGBTQI+ and marginalized people and is critical to achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future for all. #3 GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Understanding menstrual pain and norms of menstrual bleeding, hygienic menstrual management and access to healthcare and pain relief can have positive impacts on reproductive health, well-being and mental health. #6 CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION Ensuring access to clean water and safe, private sanitation facilities for managing menstruation – in homes, schools, workplaces and public institutions – can reduce gender discrimination and sexual violence. #4 QUALITY EDUCATION The ability to manage menstruation in schools has a positive impact on girls’ education in terms of reducing absenteeism and increasing participation. #8 DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH By breaking down the taboo surrounding periods in workplaces, promoting period-friendly toilets and access to menstrual products, we can empower menstruating people to participate fully in education and work, and to contribute to economic growth. #5 GENDER EQUALITY To reduce gender inequality and discrimination, it is important to ensure that all settings enable managing menstruation with dignity and comfort, challenge discriminatory gender norms, and engage men and boys in increasing their knowledge and support of those who menstruate. #12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION Supporting innovation in menstrual product waste management will help reduce pollution and provide a variety of menstrual product choices, including safe biodegradable and reusable options. GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202430
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals established by the United Nations in 2015 to address the world’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. The SDGs are interconnected and cover a wide range of issues. They aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. Achieving the SDGs requires the collective effort of governments, civil society, the private sector and individuals. By working towards the SDGs, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. #1 NO POVERTY Limited access to WASH, menstrual supplies and products, and pain management solutions due to poverty can perpetuate the cycle of poverty and hinder economic opportunities for those who menstruate. #2 ZERO HUNGER Limited access to menstrual materials due to poverty and restrictions on movement during menstruation can impact food security by forcing those who menstruate to make trade-offs between menstrual materials and other survival necessities like food. #7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY Producing, maintaining (washing or boiling) and disposing of menstrual products requires energy, which may contribute to environmental pollution. #9 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE Encouraging innovation in toilet design, disposal systems, laundering and menstrual product types may improve MHH. Small companies and social entrepreneurs who create menstrual products and sanitation-related businesses may generate employment and support the environmentally responsible production of menstrual products. #10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES Addressing MHH may help reduce inequalities in accessing resources for managing menstruation. Inadequate MHH may exacerbate existing economic and social inequalities and increase the risk of sexual and reproductive health issues and violence for those who menstruate. #11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES MHH can be supported by the following measures: providing period-friendly toilets, adapting sanitation systems for adequate product disposal and waste management and ensuring water is available for cleaning and laundering menstrual products, as well as addressing pollution generated by disposable products and providing reusable menstrual products. #13 CLIMATE ACTION Addressing MHH in the context of climate change is important, as water shortages and lack of MHH considerations for women, youth and marginalized communities may exacerbate pollution, hinder education and impact the availability of menstrual products. #14 LIFE BELOW WATER Improper disposal of single-use menstrual products can lead to environmental pollution and contaminate rivers, lakes and other waterways. #15 LIFE ON LAND Improper disposal of menstrual products, especially single-use disposables, can contribute to environmental pollution. There is a need for greater attention to menstrual product disposal and waste management to prevent the contamination of rivers, forests and other natural environments. #16 PEACE, JUSTICE, AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS Marginalized groups may lack sufficient resources and support for MHH and be vulnerable to gender- based violence. These groups include people who are homeless, transgender, non-binary, refugees or victims of natural disasters. #17 PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS Addressing MHH intersects with other issues, such as women’s empowerment, education and reducing gender gaps in schooling. Public-private partner- ships are essential for providing access to WASH, menstrual products and disposal solutions, as well as addressing the impact of gender unequal taxation on those who menstruate. Source: How addressing menstrual health and hygiene may enable progress across the Sustainable Development Goals — PMC (nih.gov), www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8253211 , https://menstrualhygieneday.org/project/infographic-mhm-and-sdgs Find out more about how MHH enables progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: > sdgs.un.org: https://bit.ly/3o5t12v GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 31
n h a Z x i l e F / k e h t o t o h P © : o t o h P DOWNLOAD THE PUBLICATION ON SUSANA.ORG: > https://susana.org/S3nByU FOREWORD Svenja Schulze, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development and members of the German civil society show their joint support to break the taboo around menstruation by wearing the Menstruation Bracelet. From left: Judith Ringlstetter, Thorsten Kiefer, Carolin Stüdemann, Svenja Schulze, Alexia Knappmann, Mathias Mogge, Thilo Panzerbieter. DEAR READERS Many young people grow up in ignorance about their bodies and their rights, which deprives them of the opportunity to make their own choices about their future. During my visits to other countries, I have seen the dramatic consequences of this. I met girls who told me what it is like not to know what is happening with your own body, what it is like to regard this as a kind of black box of which you are afraid. What it is like not to be able to talk about menstruation, not even with your friends or your mother, because it’s a taboo subject. Many have told me that they cannot go to school while they have their period, because there are no toilets with running water where they could change tampons or pads. Or simply because they have no access to menstrual products – in many cases because they cannot afford them. Or, sometimes, because it “isn't proper” to go to school during menstruation. That leaves girls with gaps in their education – and their education determines their future. Unfortunately, these are not individual instances – this is a structural problem. Over 600 million girls and women worldwide have no access to information on menstruation, to gender-appropriate toilets or to menstrual products. During their period, many of them are isolated and prevented from taking part in normal life. That is unfair. It harms their health and well-being – and that of society as a whole! No society that wants to be successful should refuse to benefit from the participation of half of its people – not even for a few days each month. There is clear evidence from studies which shows that prosperity and security increase if women enjoy equality and are able to use their potential to the full. Societies can only be peaceful and stable if all people enjoy equal participation in political, economic and social life. That is why, in my capacity as Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, I pursue a feminist development policy. Its purpose is to reduce the discrimination and oppression that keep women from enjoying equal participation. This includes providing access to menstrual health and hygiene, and eliminating the taboo surrounding menstruation once and for all. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development supports, for example, the Fit for School program in Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and the Philippines. Working with these countries’ ministries of education, as many as 27 million students, teachers and staff members have already received information on menstrual health and hygiene. We also support social media campaigns, working through influencers in the Global South – including of course boys and men. These influencers at last treat menstruation for what it is – something completely natural. In the present publication, the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) provides a collection of knowledge around menstrual health and hygiene, in order to offer practical ideas to be used on the ground. The projects presented on the world map at the beginning of the publication give us just a few examples of successful approaches. You are invited to let these ideas inspire you – this is about much more than just a few days at a certain time of the month! Svenja Schulze German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development sustainablesanitationallianceCompiled on behalf of SuSanA Working Group 7 “Sustainable WASH in Institutions and Gender Equality”with support from the GIZ Water Policy Programme, GermanyMENSTRUAL HEALTH & HYGIENE RELEVANT, INTERSECTORAL AND ON THE RISE A COMPILATION OF MHH RESOURCES REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION 2023CONNECTSUPPORT & INVESTSTAY INFORMEDWATCH & LISTENLEARNGET INSPIRED PARTICIPATESPREAD THE WORDFIND INFORMATIONENCOURAGE CHOICECOMMIT TO MHHGIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202432
Global Menstrual Hygiene Day 28th May / Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030 WASH United > The international Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day), initiated and led by the NGO WASH United, is the world’s largest and most relevant campaign focused on menstrua- tion. The campaign aims to ensure that by 2030, no woman or girl is prevented from achieving her full potential due to her period. Organizations around the world are joining the campaign by breaking the silence and overcoming the stigma surrounding menstruation. This raises awareness about MHH and promotes greater access to menstrual products, sanitation facilities and education. While the major focus is on 28 May, the organization carries out advocacy activities throughout the year. The impact of MH Day 2022 was remarkable, with 225,000 contributions on social media and 14,670 articles in online news media. In total, the campaign reached 687 million people worldwide. The success of MH Day shows that there is growing recognition of the importance of MHH in achieving gender equality and sustainable development. > https://menstrualhygieneday.org Menstruation in a Global Context: Addressing Policy and Practice ColumbiaX @ edX > Columbia University has released an open online course, Menstruation in a Global Context: Addressing Policy and Practice, to provide learners with a foundation on the global menstruation movement that aims to ensure that the menstrual needs of everyone, everywhere are met. This course reviews the menstrual health and hygiene research, programming, and policies being implemented around the world. Participants will gain knowledge and skills on approaches for MHH program design and implementation, research, monitoring and advocacy, with an emphasis on the needs of low-income and vulnerable populations around the world. The course is free and open to all on edX.org with an optional paid verified certificate program. > edx.org: https://bit.ly/3BCV6B7 Oky App UNICEF > Stress free periods with Oky! Oky is the world’s first period tracker app for girls and created with girls. It provides information about menstruation in fun, creative and positive ways straight into girls’ hands through the tools they use every day — mobile phones. Oky lets girls feel in control and more confident by tracking their periods, and getting the information that all girls should know. > https://okyapp.info GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 33
Empower Girls with the free MHM Education Guide WASH United, 2018 > For girls to manage their periods safely, hygienically and without shame, they need a basic understanding of what menstruation is and how to handle it. Unfortunately, millions of girls lack access to even minimal information on menstruation. WASH United’s MHM Education Guide, developed together with girls and teachers, is a compact, easy-to-use, and low-cost solution. It is available for free in more than 20 languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Nepali, Amharic, Kiswhahili, Hindi and many more Indian languages. > www.wash-united.org/mhm-guide/mhm-guide.html Period Positive Workplaces > Period positive workplaces can increase employee productivity and reduce absenteeism for people who menstruate. Organizations become stronger and more inclusive by providing for menstrual needs. Join organizations around the world to become a Period Positive Workplace and receive complimentary certification by applying here. > www.periodpositiveworkplace.org 28ish Days Later — Podcast Podcast, BBC, 2022 > This intimate, bold and taboo-busting podcast series explores the menstrual cycle — the science, drama, history, personal stories and politics in-between. India Rakusen explores the whole story, discovering facts that could change your life. Periods are just the beginning. In this BBC podcast series, the menstrual cycle is explored from the beginning of bleeding to the start of the next cycle. Listeners will discover how gaining knowledge about hormones and the menstrual cycle can change their lives, one day at a time. > www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0019r79 FIND MORE INFORMATION. JOIN US ON THE SuSanA Forum: > https://bit.ly/3yKNcpb GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 202434
Production and print supported by GIZ Sustainability Fund Photo credits/sources: GIZ has image rights unless otherwise stated or an image is directly attached to the showcase post for an organization, initiative or resource. URL links: This publication contains links to external websites. Responsibility for the content of the listed external sites always lies with their respective publishers. When the links to these sites were first posted, GIZ checked the third-party content to establish whether it could give rise to civil or criminal liability. However, the constant review of the links to external sites cannot reasonably be expected without concrete indication of a violation of rights. If GIZ itself becomes aware or is notified by a third party that an external site it has provided a link to gives rise to civil or criminal liability, it will remove the link to this site immediately. GIZ expressly dissociates itself from such content. GIZ is responsible for the content of this publication. Printed on 100% recycled paper, certified to FSC standards Place and date of publication: Bonn and Eschborn, 8 March 2024 (International Women’s Day) IMPRINT As a federally owned enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Registered offices: Bonn und Eschborn Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36 53113 Bonn T +49 228 44 60 - 0 F +49 228 44 60 - 17 66 Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1– 5 65760 Eschborn T +49 6196 79 - 0 F +49 6196 79 - 1115 E info@giz.de I www.giz.de Responsible: Dr. Arne Panesar, on behalf of the GIZ Staff Initiative MenstruAction Editors: Daphne Manolakos, Natalie Schmitz, Jan-Christoph Schlenk Reviewers: Dr. Arne Panesar, Dr. Katrin Dauenhauer, Anna von Roenne, Karen Birdsall Contact: MenstruAction@giz.de Design and product development: Christine Lüdke, büro lüdke GmbH, Berlin www.bueroluedke.de n o i t i d e l a i c e p S l a p e N m o r f d n a s r e k a m e g n a h C l a i c o S : e r o m n r a e l o T . s r o t a v o n n I t W J 5 N I 3 / y l . t i b / / : s p t t h O G N d e l - h t u o y e h t y b t e l e c a r B n o i t a u r t s n e M e h T s d n a t s n o b b i r d e r e h t s a t s u j a m g i t s d o i r e p t s n i a g a t h g fi e h t f o l o b m y s a e m o c e b s a h h t i w I t e l e c a r b A . S D A / V I H t s n i a g a t h g fi e h t r o f g n i z i l o b m y s , e t i h w 3 2 d n a d e r e v fi , s d a e b 8 2 . e l c y c n o i t a u r t s n e m e g a r e v a e h t CUT WEAR JOIN GIZ / MenstruAction – From Enthusiasm to Action 2024 35
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