ADDIS ABBBA- A nationwide women empowerment movement dubbed ‘Jegnit’ has finalized preparation to launch a campaign on menstruation and advocacy for free supply of sanitary pads for girls at school. Founder of the movement, Maraki Tesfaye told The Ethiopian Herald that the campaign, which will be launched on the 25th of May, aims to reach one million women and girls at schools, rehabilitation centers, prison cells, and health institutions to provide them with sanitary kits.
Indicating that about 40 million women experience menstruation, Maraki said “It’s about time to change the situation. ‘Jegnit’ is set to start a campaign for a tax cut on sanitary pads and on access to clean restrooms, whose inaccessibility is keeping girls at home and away from school.” Maraki stated that access for a clean restroom at schools is every girl’s right as stated in article 44 of the Constitution. The government has to enforce tax cuts to improve the accessibility and affordability of pads nationwide.
“Even though the Customs Authority has reduced tax on sanitary pads, the absence of factories that locally produce sanitary pads remains a challenge.” According to her, menstruation is often considered a taboo in Ethiopia and rarely talked about forcing a lot of girls to drop out of school. Stating menstruation is a natural process; the founder stressed the need to break the taboo and start to openly discuss the issue. A campaign, ‘Dignity Period’ is an ongoing and scalable initiative to raise awareness about the issue and bring about meaningful change, she added.
Since its official launching on November 2018, ‘jegnit’ (literally means heroine in Amharic), is advocating for women’s empowerment and access to education, health, and equal opportunity. The movement is closely partnering with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and other government organs to pursue women’s cause.
The Ethiopian Herald May 21/ 2019
BY FASICA BERHANE
