Scotland Become First Country to Make Period Products Free

Scotland has become the first country in the world to pass legislation to make period products available for free to anyone who needs them.

The bill, brought forward by Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon, was unanimously approved at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

Lennon told Sky News the aim of the bill was to end period poverty and provide free, universal access to period products to "women, girls and other people who menstruate."

Under the new legislation, products such as sanitary pads, tampons and menstrual cups can be universally accessed for free, tackling a problem which has hindered the lives of many unable to afford these products.

Kerry Wright was one of such people. She told Sky News that her inability to buy period products meant she had to skip school and wasn't able to progress in her education.

"Not being able to participate in school life meant that I wasn't able to fully sit my exams when the time came, which meant I couldn't stay on in further education," she explained. "That's just once one of the things and one aspect of the shame that I felt and the embarrassment."

The bill was passed by 121 to zero, garnering the support of the Scottish government and other opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament.

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