If toilet paper is offered for free in public bathrooms, why aren't tampons and pads? They all respond to natural bodily functions.

Sanitary products aren’t luxury, but a necessity and too many girls are skipping school because they aren’t able to afford pads and tampons.

Findings from the CAYLUS (Central Australian Youth Link-Up Services)'s Menstrual Hygiene Management in Central Australia, A group of girls between the age of 10 -17 asked for free sanitary products in the toilets from tomorrow. A principal from Barkley region said that there are girls who don't come to school when they their periods. A grandmother also confirmed that sometimes girls don't go to school when they have their period. 

Youth19 Survey found 12% of year 9 to 13 students who menstruate reported difficulty accessing sanitary products, while approximately one in 12 students reported skipping school as they couldn’t afford products.

Lack of easy access to pads and tampons can negatively impact on students' participation in sport and everyday school activities. Students may not be able to concentrate in class, feel comfortable or feel confident doing physical activity, or they may miss school altogether. By making sanitary pads and tampons freely available at school bathrooms, we are one step closer to educational equality.

Schools play an important role in promoting a positive culture around menstrual health and building a supportive environment among the school community. The initiative aims to reduce the stigma of periods, making school a more inclusive place which will help students focus on their studies. 

Victoria is the first state or territory in Australia to ensure every government school student has universal access to free sanitary products.

“Kids aren’t going to go to school if they haven’t got menstrual products, because it’s so shameful and embarrassing — there’s still this big stigma around it,” New Zealand Prime Minister Prime minister Said. "It’s been this hidden problem of social inequity that no one had thought of." New Zealand tackles 'period poverty' with free sanitary products for all schoolgirls

While providing free products in schools is a great first step, this petition is for sanitary products to be supplied directly in each female bathroom either through a dispenser or boxing system. 

Kindly sign this petition to support the cause, #ENDPERIODPOVERTY