Period Poverty: A Swiss “Blind-Spot” and Solutions from Abroad

Written By Ily

by Ily

What is Period Poverty, and what are the main causes?

Period poverty is limited access to safe, hygienic, and affordable menstrual products, lack of adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities, and scarce education, information and awareness needed to manage menstrual health. Addressing menstrual poverty, however, means also addressing constrained body autonomy, the persistence of taboos and stereotypes surrounding the topic, the loss of school or work days, the renunciation of sports, going out, and participation in social activities due to shame or embarrassment[1] [2].

As Anita Diamant puts it in her book Period. End of Sentence, period poverty is not the same for everyone: "it can mean an empty tampon box or nowhere to dry your cloth pads; it can mean no clean water to wash your hands, no toilets to take care of yourself in private and no way to dispose of what you used."[3]

The main causes of period poverty are high cost of menstrual products, lack of water and sanitation facilities, and stigma that still surrounds menstruations[4].

Period poverty – An International Problem

Period poverty affects individuals everywhere in the world, in humanitarian crisis settings, in low-, middle- and high-income countries[5] [6].

Lebanon – 66% of the adolescent girls interviewed for a research reported that they were unable to afford menstrual pads[7].

UK – 48% of girls feel embarrassed because of menstruation, while 1 in 10 has been unable to afford menstrual products due to their cost[8] [9].

Italy – the first survey of period poverty conducted in 2024, showed that almost 1 in 6 persons declares not being able to afford menstrual products[10].

Palestine – Palestinian poet and activist Mariam Mohammed El Khatib describes in a personal testimony what it means to have periods during bombardments: washing in secret with a bottle of water, using pieces of cloth, and fearing staining a shared mattress[11].

Brazil – 29% of women reported that at least once in 2021 they ran out of money to purchase menstrual health products. Among adolescent girls aged 15 to 17, 26% did not have access to adequate menstrual products, and 50% of women reported having to substitute sanitary pads with toilet paper, clothing, or towels[12].

Ethiopia and Kenya – 50% of girls miss between one and four days of school every month due to menstruation and in Kenya, it is estimated that girls miss an average of four school days per month, which amounts to 165 fewer learning days over four years[13].

Zooming in on Switzerland's Approach to Period Poverty

To this point it is difficult to determine how many people are affected by period poverty in Switzerland, as there is no statistic on the topic. Sanitary products are an expensive commodity, income will be a factor on who can have access to the products they require. According to the Federal Statistical Office (BFS), in 2024, 8.4% of the permanent resident population living in private households were affected by income poverty, and 16.1% of the population is at risk of poverty[14][15].

Having periods is expensive: according to a calculation by RTS (Suisse Radio and Television), a person who menstruates would spend over 4,000 francs over their lifetime on sanitary pads[16].

Issues related to menstrual poverty also exist in Switzerland and particularly affect certain groups, such as young people, people experiencing economic hardship and/or homelessness, migrants, LBTQIA+ people[17].

Prices and Taxes on Menstrual Products

In several countries menstrual products come with no tax at all (for example in Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, Mexico, etc.). In Europe only Spain, Ireland and the UK do not tax menstrual products[18].

Most countries in the world still do not consider menstrual products to be "essential goods" and therefore tax them at the normal or standard rate. This was also the case in Switzerland until 2024, when menstrual products were taxed at 8.1%. The Swiss National Council and the Council of States voted to reduce the taxes (VAT) on menstrual hygiene products, such as sanitary pads and tampons, from 8.1% to 2.6% putting the law into effect starting from 01.01.2025[19].

The Fédération romande des consommateur·rice·s (Swiss French Federation of Consumers) carried out price surveys of more than 200 products at Migros, Coop, Lidl, Aldi, Manor, and Denner in December 2024 and then again in January 2025, after the tax on period products had been reduced.

The sample included more than 120 identical products (sanitary pads, tampons, and panty liners) recorded during both visits. The results were surprising: no price reductions were visible on the shelves. Retailers nevertheless explained that they had anticipated the measure in 2024 by lowering their prices several months in advance. Manor was the exception, having applied the reduction only with a delay, officially for technical reasons, before correcting the shelf labels after the investigation was published. Although prices have indeed gone down in practice, this information has remained largely invisible to consumers, as retailers communicated little or not at all about these reductions. Transparency varies greatly from one retailer to another: Migros refused to provide its previous prices, while others supplied data that were sometimes contradictory or contained pricing display errors. The investigation therefore reveals a general impression of disorder, further compounded by changes in product ranges and packaging that make price comparisons more difficult[20].

Solutions from around the World

Scotland

In 2022, Scotland became the first country in the world to legally guarantee the right to access free period products for anyone who needs them. Under the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021, local authorities and education providers are legally required to make period products available free of charge. Products must be easily obtained, in a way that respects people's dignity, and a range of products must be provided[21]. Free period products can thus be accessed across the whole of Scotland in places such as schools, colleges, universities and in community settings, including libraries, leisure and community centres. The free app "PickupMyPeriod"[22] lists locations across Scotland where period products can be accessed at no cost[23].

Northern Ireland

In 2024, Northern Ireland followed the example of Scotland and became the second country in the world to provide free period products. Period products are available in every public library[24][25].

Examples of free period products displayed in public libraries in Northern Ireland[26][27]

And in Switzerland?

On a Federal level:

In 2020 a motion from the Green Party proposed that the Federal Council be tasked with preparing a report on menstrual poverty in Switzerland and examining measures to ensure free access to menstrual products for all people who need them. The proposal was, however, rejected because:

[…] the Federal Council does not consider it to be within its remit to prepare a report at the federal level with the aim of making menstrual products free of charge. Other hygiene products are also indispensable for various segments of the population, depending on different needs. Introducing free provision of certain items of this kind or subsidising them with public funds would create new disparities and would not be consistent with the principles of a market economy.[28]

On a Local level:

Different cities in Switzerland have proposed or developed projects to fight period poverty.

In 2022, the city of Zürich launched the project "Perioden-Armut stoppen!" (Stop-period-poverty!) with the aim of providing free menstrual products for those who need them or cannot afford them; promoting the use of reusable products, such as menstrual cups, to help save money and reduce waste; and providing information about menstruation, sharing knowledge on the topic, and encouraging open discussion about menstruation. After the pilot phase, all secondary schools in the city were supplied with free tampons and sanitary pads. In addition, there is a list of selected locations across the city where free tampons and sanitary pads have been available since the beginning of 2023[29].

The canton of Fribourg has made sanitary products freely accessible since 2024 in 73 public buildings, including schools, public institutions, and sports facilities. These locations are identifiable by the logo "Protection menstruelle en libre accès" (free accessible menstrual protections)[30].

Logo "Protection menstruelle en libre accès" of Canton Fribourg

The project «Stop précarité menstruelle» (Stop period poverty) developed by the city of Geneva in 2021, is structured around several key pillars and aims to prevent menstrual poverty by improving access to menstrual products and raising awareness among both the general public and those affected by issues related to menstruation. Several projects have been implemented and are gradually taking shape:

  • a pilot project involving dispensers of menstrual products installed in municipal locations or venues supported by the city, primarily targeting groups most at risk of menstrual poverty, particularly young people and/or the most vulnerable individuals
  • a mobile information and outreach initiative encouraging the use of reusable menstrual products
  • awareness-raising activities addressing the taboos that still often surround menstruation and collaborations with community-based, institutional, and private partners
  • to date, nearly 250 dispensers have been installed in over a hundred locations across the municipal area and an online map shows the location of the dispensers[31][32].

Fighting against Period Poverty

Period poverty is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects people across the world, including in high-income countries such as Switzerland. It is not only a question of access to affordable menstrual products, but of adequate infrastructure, education, and the battle against social stigma surrounding menstruation.

While Switzerland has taken some important steps (such as reducing VAT on menstrual products and supporting local initiatives that provide free access in schools, public buildings, and cities like the examples of Zurich, Fribourg, and Geneva) there is still no comprehensive national strategy or clear data on the extent of the problem. Efforts remain fragmented and often depend on local policies rather than coordinated federal action.

The experiences of countries like Scotland and Northern Ireland show that broader, rights-based approaches are possible and can significantly improve access to menstrual products. In Switzerland, continuing to expand local initiatives, improve transparency, and strengthen awareness could help address existing gaps. Tackling period poverty ultimately requires recognizing menstrual health as an essential aspect of public health and social equality.



References

  1. UN Women, "Period Poverty – why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods," 2025. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  2. WeWorld, "enCICLOpedia." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  3. Anita Diamant, Period. End of Sentence, Scribner, 2021, pp. 59–60
  4. UN Women, "Period Poverty – why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods," 2025. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  5. WeWorld, "enCICLOpedia." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  6. UN Women, "Period Poverty – why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods," 2025. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  7. Plan International, "Period Poverty in Lebanon," 2021. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  8. Plan International UK, "Almost half of girls aged 14–21 are embarrassed by their periods," 2017. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  9. Plan International UK, "1 in 10 girls have been unable to afford sanitary wear, survey finds," 2017. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  10. WeWorld, "enCICLOpedia." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  11. MondoWeiss, Mariam Khateeb, "The war where women's bodies lost their rights," 2025. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  12. WMC, Isabella Poppe, "Fighting for a Brazilian Period Poverty Law," 2021. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  13. World Bank Blogs, Myra Murad Khan, "Menstrual health and hygiene: What role can schools play?," 2022. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  14. BFS, "Armut," 2024. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  15. Avenir Suisse, Patrick Leisibach, "Armut in einem reichen Land: Drei Fragen – drei Antworten," 2025. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  16. RTS, "Le coût des menstruations et comment réduire la facture," 2020. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  17. Ville de Genève, "Stop précarité menstruelle." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  18. PeriodTax, "Global period tax map & database." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  19. AFC, "Taux de TVA applicables en Suisse." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  20. FRC, Sandra Imsand, "TVA et protections hygiéniques: le grand chaos en rayon," 2025. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  21. Scottish Government, "Poverty and social justice." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  22. MyPeriod, "MyPeriod." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  23. Scotland, "Period dignity." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  24. Hey Girls, "Hey Girls and My Period work together to supply free period products in Northern Ireland." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  25. Libraries NI, "Free Period Products." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  26. Libraries NI, Instagram Post. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  27. Belfast Live, Jane Corscadden, "Northern Ireland libraries now offering free period products thanks to new law," 2024. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  28. Parlament, "Kampf gegen die Periodenarmut. Kostenloser Zugang zu Produkten der Monatshygiene," 2020. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  29. Stadt Zürich, "Projekt «Perioden-Armut stoppen!»." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  30. Canton de Fribourg, "Le canton de Fribourg précurseur avec la mise à disposition en libre accès des protections hygiéniques dans les écoles, ainsi que dans les institutions publiques et sportives," 2023. Last accessed: 30.4.26
  31. Ville de Genève, "Stop précarité menstruelle." Last accessed: 30.4.26
  32. Ville de Genève, "Accessibilité des produits menstruels à Genève." Last accessed: 30.4.26
Ily