Lebanon’s economic crisis, exacerbated by the Beirut port explosion and the Covid-19 pandemic, has meant that the majority of the population in the country is currently living in multidimensional poverty. At the same time, the price of sanitary pads has risen by 500%, leaving many in Lebanon unable to afford the essential menstrual products they require.
A LACK OF ACCESS TO MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS
Period poverty is defined by the “access to menstrual products, safe hygienic spaces in which to use them, and a right to manage menstruation without shame or stigma”. Access to menstrual products is a significant issue in Lebanon as the economic downfall has seen the price of a packet of pads rise from 3,000-4,000 Lebanese pounds ($2) in 2019, to 13,000-32,000 Lebanese pounds ($21) in 2021.
This rise in prices has meant that three-quarters (76%) of those who menstruate are struggling to afford menstrual products, leading many to turn to inadequate alternatives such as sheets of newspaper, old cloth, or tissue paper. However, not only have the prices of these alternatives also risen, but these alternatives are unhygienic and can cause significant health issues. A study by Fe-Male and Plan International has found that 36% of people who menstruate in Lebanon have experienced negative physical symptoms due to the inability to appropriately manage their period, with many also experiencing anxiety and stress due to this situation.
In an attempt to mitigate the effects of increasing prices, in 2020 the Lebanese government created a list of “essential” goods that could be brought into the country at 3,900 Lebanese pounds ($2.58). However, whilst men’s razors were included on this list, sanitary products were not, causing public outrage. Whilst the Minister of Economy and Trade stated that there would be a subsidisation of the materials required to produce sanitary products, there has been no subsequent reduction in the prices of locally produced menstrual products. Rather, many locally produced menstrual products have caused allergic reactions to those who have utilised them.
REUSABLE PRODUCTS: A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION?
Given the dire situation in Lebanon, many organisations like Earthona have begun promoting the use of reusable pads. Switching to reusable pads is cheaper in the long-term and can reduce costs by 60-70% every year. Nonetheless, the initial investment of 40,000-46,000 Lebanese pounds which would be required (approximately the same amount as two packs of seven disposable pads) means that this is not an accessible solution for many people.
Even if reusable pads were made accessible for everyone through government or aid agency subsidies, this would not solve the issue of period poverty. A 2020 study by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) found that there were several challenges regarding the social acceptability and practicality of reusable pads. Many would lack the resources to regularly wash fabric pads, particularly those in informal settlements, whilst others could feel uncomfortable about the practicalities of using them.
Similarly, there is also hesitance towards using reusable menstrual cups as many are worried that it would prevent them from keeping their hymens intact before marriage. As such, organisations like Juniper, which promote the use of reusable menstrual cups, have faced challenges in generating a sufficient uptake in their product. Nevertheless, with a cost of 132,000 Lebanese pounds ($86), menstrual cups are also financially out of reach for most people in Lebanon.
RAISING AWARENESS
Conscious of the high costs associated with reusable products, and the lack of public discussion towards period poverty, a two-month period poverty festival was launched in July 2021. Known as Jeyetna, the festival has distributed free reusable menstrual products, provided medical consultations, organised information sessions, and shared a documentary on period poverty. Although a nationwide festival, local volunteers help ensure that the festival tailors their activities to different cultures and the needs of locals at each of their 25 stops.
The organisers of Jeyetna have noticed that providing a range of reusable products has encouraged those who menstruate to experiment with new reusable alternatives. Yet whilst Jeyetna has successfully distributed over 6,000 free menstruation products, there is limited funding available, and the festival therefore relies upon donations. However, due to the economic crisis, donations are dwindling and they are insufficient to cope with the significant demand for menstrual products in Lebanon. There is therefore an important way to go to properly address period poverty in Lebanon.
Mariam graduated with a First-Class Law Degree from Durham University in July 2021. She is currently a Legal and Advocacy Intern at the Consortium for Street Children and a volunteer for the Refugee Council. Mariam is also a member of the Amnesty International UK Youth Collective.