At the IFRC, #WeAreCommitted to challenging period stigma, exclusion and discrimination and to improving the menstrual hygiene management (MHM) knowledge, skills and programming of our National Societies.
We’re working to raise MHM standards across our network—both as part of our long-term water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes, but also during emergency response. Because periods don’t stop in an emergency!
We focus on three main areas:
- Providing pads and menstrual health items as relief items.
- Community engagement to demystify periods, educate women and girls on how to manage them safely, and challenge negative attitudes especially among men and boys.
- Setting up WASH facilities designed with the additional needs of menstruating women and girls in mind.
Watch these short videos to learn more:
[‘No more limits, period!’ video https://youtu.be/mJBhGcB8NEA]
(Menstrual Hygiene Management, for staff and volunteers ) English: https://youtu.be/kd_gR_S-rGw
With support from the Humanitarian Innovation Fund, the Lebanese Red Cross has partnered with IFRC, the British Red Cross and consulting firm ARUP to develop inclusive and MHM-friendly latrines and bathing/laundering facilities.
They focused on women living in informal tented settlements near the Syrian border. Speaking to women in the settlements, Lebanese Red Cross teams learned aspects like lack of privacy, no considerations for disposal, steps and inaccessible for older people and those with physical disabilities, no water are really important for people who menstruate. One core outcome of this project was to develop a MHM and accessible manual and designs that is user centre and take in consideration the challenges and preferences.
- Discover even more case studies from our National Societies’ MHM activities in this collection.
- Explore our wealth of practical guidance, tools and advocacy resources on menstrual hygiene on our dedicated WASH site here.