Call for Submissions – JSC Human Rights, Equality and Diversity – Period Poverty in Trinidad and Tobago

The Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, Equality and Diversity is inviting comments as it pertains to its inquiry into addressing the effects of period poverty in Trinidad and Tobago.

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Period poverty can be defined as:

  1. The social, economic, political, and cultural barriers to accessing menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these (Cardoso LF, Scolese AM, Hamidaddin A, Gupta J. Period poverty and mental health implications among college-aged women in the United States. BMC Womens Health. 2021 Dec 1;21(1))
  2. A lack of knowledge of menstruation and an inability to access necessary sanitary materials (World Health Organisation) (World Health Organisation, Menstrual hygiene and health – a call for dignity, rights and empowerment. Accessed April 12, 2023. Available: https://pmnch.who.int/news-and-events/news/item/28-05-2020-menstrual-hygiene-and-health-a-call-for-dignity-rights-and-empowerment)
  3. The situation in which those on low incomes can’t afford, or access, suitable period products (BBC, Period poverty: Scotland first in world to make period products free. Accessed April 12, 2023. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51629880)

As part of its inquiry process, the Committee is inviting all stakeholders and interested persons to submit written comments / suggestions related to the following objectives of the inquiry:

  • The effects of period poverty on the human rights of women and girls in Trinidad and Tobago; and
  • The potential measures that could be implemented in the public and private sectors to address period poverty.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS OCTOBER 27TH, 2023.

Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary to the Committee as stated below or can be forwarded via email to jschumanrights@ttparliament.org.

The Secretary
The Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, Equality and Diversity
Office of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
Parliamentary Complex
Cabildo Building
St. Vincent Street
Port-of-Spain