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WOREC and partner organizations organized a poet recitation program related to girls and women's health to mark the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 30. The poem recitation program focused on creating awareness on the issues related to menstrual hygiene and conveying the message that periods don’t stop for pandemics.
The program featured the members of Girls Right Forums (GRFs) of Kapilvastu and Rupandehi districts, youths and adolescents from youth networks, writers, poets, students, human rights activists, Women Human Rights Defenders, elected representatives from local government participated in the program. 117 participants attended the program where 15 youth including members from Girl’s Rights Forums of Kapilvastu and Rupandehi, students, representatives of civil society and elected representatives recited the poem on menstruation issues.
The poems highlighted the ‘Periods don’t stop for pandemic’ notion and further pointed out that the pandemic has forced girls and women to compromise their menstrual hygiene in the absence of sanitary products and services.
Various reports show that movement restriction due to the pandemic has ceased delivery of menstrual hygiene products to remote areas. Along with that, the closure of schools has also affected the supply of pads, as many girls used to rely on free pads provided by schools.
Bharat Bahadur Bhandari, Secretary of Nepal Writers Association, also stated that menstruation continues to remain taboo in Nepal and not just in rural areas where the practice of Chaupaddhi still prevails but also in urban areas and in educated households where social ostracization in the form of ‘na chune’ remains.
“The primary reason why such outdated practices continue is that Nepal is still very much a patriarchal society. Dismantling such deep-rooted practices surrounding menstruation requires continuous awareness programs and the active participation of men in the topics related to the period,” said Bhandari. Bhandari also recited the poem related to women’s bodily integrity and sexuality.
Rita Thapaliya from Amnesty International Nepal said that for the period poverty and taboo to be eradicated, there should be efforts to prioritize menstrual hygiene by continuously providing clean water, sanitary pads and awareness programs on menstrual hygiene management.
Jageshwori Chaudhari, Vice Mayor of Tillotama Municipality of Rupandehi districts said that Tillotama municipality is committed to the awareness programs related to women rights and sexual and reproductive health. She also said that under her leadership, the municipality has been conducting different skill and capacity enhancing training along with launching the ‘Anti Dowry’ campaign and program on menstrual hygiene management. “Gender policy action plans are being implemented in the municipality and we ensure that we will continue to advocate for the women’s rights in coordination with GRF,” said Chaudhari.
The program was live broadcasted on WOREC’s official Facebook page and on Radio Udayapur.