Period Poverty Enforcing Gender Based Violence.

 (Puleng Sithebe DfG Ambassador)

Days for Girls Eswatini (DfG) was honoured to present on how period poverty enforces gender-based violence and gender inequality at the One Billion Rising Eswatini GBV awareness event. Puleng Sithebe (Days for Girls Ambassador) took on the stage to share powerful insights on the effects of period poverty. She further urged the Eswatini government to recognize period poverty as a critical public health issue, as this would be a significant step towards ending gender inequality and gender-based violence. Key points from the presentation.

Breaking Down Stigma: DfG recognized that due to stigma, girls did not have a supportive environment to menstruate. They faced bullying from boys, and lack of menstrual health education resulted in embarrassment and shame. The solution lies in educating both girls and boys about menstrual health, by so doing, boys become supporters of menstruators, and girls can menstruate with pride and dignity.

 Providing a sustainable solution:  During menstrual health educational sessions, we provide girls with washable sanitary pads. This initiative addresses the affordability issue, some girls miss school when they are on their period due to the lack of sanitary pads. When girls miss 3-5 school days each month, their chances of success are threatened. Girls are expected to perform academically on par with boys, but this becomes challenging when they face such barriers. Their opportunities for greatness are limited by a biological process they have no control of. 

Inaccessibility and Disadvantage: The inaccessibility of menstrual pads puts girls in disadvantageous situations. lack of affordability of sanitary pads, results to adolescent girls seeking alternative ways to obtain them. Unfortunately, some resort to dating older men (sugar daddies) who exploit them sexually. This cycle perpetuates teenage pregnancies, early marriages, HIV/AIDS infections, and abuse, further entrenching poverty.

 Breaking the Cycle: Not only does financial dependence on men perpetuate power imbalances, but it also results in women being subjugated. Men use domestic violence as a control tactic. However, due to the lack of resources to thrive, girls find themselves trapped in toxic and perilous environments. 

Empowering Women and Girls: The key to ending gender-based violence (GBV) lies in equipping women and girls with essential resources and skills. We must address the seemingly small barriers that hinder women from achieving independence and devise solutions, as these seemingly small steps can have the greatest impact. Recognizing Period Poverty. I urge our government to acknowledge period poverty as a critical public health issue. By doing so, we take a significant step toward ending gender inequality and GBV. 

Let’s challenge stigmas, norms, and the patriarchal system, while promoting women’s empowerment projects that create pathways without barriers. A Call for Change: As we’ve witnessed campaigns addressing HIV/AIDS, safer practices, and ending GBV, let’s also champion #periodpositivity, #menstrualequity, and #periodwithnoproblems.