Happy World Menstrual Health Day to all our supporters. Thank you for your commitment and support to this movement, all 1317 of you have taken a stand against menstrual stigma by signing this petition. 

WASH United haven't decided to officially change the day for 2020 but we will continue to encourage them, with your support, and strive for 2021 to be the year that we lose 'hygiene' from the menstruation conversation. 

Unofficially, many individuals, such as yourselves, and many organisations, have decided to rename and reclaim the day to World Menstrual Health Day regardless of WASH United's decision. We've had support from like-minded organisations such as Bloody Good Period, Menstrual Health Hub, WECF, The Body Shop, Plan International UK, Lucy & Yak, Huck Magazine, and many more - a huge thank you to everyone.  

The Health Not Hygiene campaign seeks to shift the dialogue on menstruation, to challenge the stigma and discrimination around the subject.  We believe that the word 'hygiene' in the context of menstruation, particularly around Menstrual Hygiene Day, risks leaving menstrual stigma and discrimination out of the conversation, and risks actively creating stigma by reinforcing the stereotype of menstruation as unclean, unnatural, or unhygienic. 'Health' is a more encompassing word which helps educate and combat stigma, as well as broadening the narrative around menstruation, recognising the complexities of the menstrual cycle.

As a grassroots activists, we put rights and lived experiences of menstruators at the heart of our work. We therefore engage with all actors in the sector and call on them to embrace that objective. 

Please continue to spread the word. To all of us, the 28th of May, today, will be World Menstrual Health Day.