Hi all,
Not directly related to the event, but I really liked this article: www.developmentbookshelf.com/doi/pdf/10.3362/1756-3488.2015.006

Menstrual hygiene management: education and empowerment for girls?
DEEPA JOSHI, GERLINDE BUIT and DIANA GONZÁLEZ-BOTERO

Abstract:
This paper discusses the recent attention of the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
sector to resolving the menstrual hygiene crisis for young girls in developing countries. Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) interventions, including the use of sanitary pads, education and awareness, and where possible separate, sanitary toilets, are identified to have far-reaching impacts on the education and empowerment of girls. Field research conducted in Ghana’s Northern Region indicates a pronounced socialized, sexualized understanding and experience of menstruation among young girls and their families, school teachers, and local NGOs. Unfortunately WASH initiatives only allow interventions to manage menstrual hygiene, leaving the young girls and others in their social settings to deal with the larger subset of sexuality issues. We argue that opening the dominant discourse of a medicalized concept of menstruation to other meanings and experiences will have significant implications for the education and empowerment of young adolescent girls.

Keywords: menstruation, Ghana, hygiene, medicalized, sexualized, education, empowerment

Other work of Deepa Joshi also focused on the issue of homelessness and perceptions of hygiene, also related to menstruation: eau.sagepub.com/content/23/1/91.short

Best,
Giacomo

Thanks for the votes of confidence ladies - we are thrilled to see this event coming together.

If you can believe it I think we actually do have Rose George on board - such a fantastic, passionate (and far more articulate than me!) advocate for this work. She will take part in the debate in the evening.

You might be interested in the trailer of the film we're showing, The Menstrual Man:

Please do share with your SE contacts - we are a bit upset that MHD falls in the exam season for students, thus ruling an important group out, but we do hope lots can make it.

Nicola

I second that!

(But have family commitment here in Devon on the day.)

Susi Batstone

Hi!

Well done for getting this event together.

It may be too late as she has lots of calls on her time, but could you involve Rose George at all?

She can be reached through Twitter..

brilliant! So pleased to see something else happening in SW England. I mean something at all... Bristol rocks! Susannah (Cornwall)

Hi All

Thank you for highlighting this.

I would like to take the opportunity to invite you to our event for Menstrual Hygiene Day in Bristol - in fact, if you are already interested in this topic, we are also looking to extend our list of panelists for the event.

The primary issues for debate are:
- menstrual waste. A mountain in the making?
-homelessness, poverty and periods. How can you choose between sanitary pads and a hot meal?
-the period tax: why are we still taxed 5% VAT. Are tampons a luxury?

Our website has just gone live: talkperiod.org/
Please register for the event and film screening of 'Mentstrual Man' here: www.eventbrite.com/e/talkperiod-celebrat...-tickets-16844893530

We also have a facebook page here: www.facebook.com/talk.period?fref=ts

Please join us in Bristol on Thursday May 28th.

Nicola

dear all -

on 1st May the May Menstravaganza has started again, building momentum for MH Day this year!

MH Day this year is under the theme : Let's end the hesitation around menstruation.


How can you participate?

1. Become a partner

• just write to us what you do on MHM and send you logo.

2. Social media :

• Join the Twitterchat on 21st May 4 pm CET
• Use our tweet sheet

3. Create an event

• get inspired by the Pop Up Exhibition Toolkit
• add your event here

and for more updates on MHM in general, simply subscribe to the Newsletter

Dear Forum,

The SuSanA Secretariat wants to bring attention to the Menstrual Hygiene Day. It is an important matter to scale up communication and break cultural taboos about menstruation in many parts of the world. This also means to include both genders in education about menstruation to reach common understanding in all concerned areas and levels of society.

We would like to share some links to information shared by WASH United, the initiator of the Menstrual Hygiene Day, below. We also would like to forward another link about the topic that reached us today from 'Sanitation Updates'

station-station.com/berlin/wash-united/

chartyourcycle.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/...nstrual-hygiene-day/

sanitationupdates.wordpress.com/

Please spread the word, if you can.

[posted by Sebastian Klos]

IT IS FINALLY 28 MAY!

an updates list of exciting events by partners around MH Day can be found here .


Ranging from stakeholder consultations, community events, rallies, to trainings, releases of publications and launch of projects, it is amazing what passion and dedication partners have put into making the DAY a success.

You can also support to start the conversation about menstruation on social media
#menstrualhygiene Day and #menstruationmatters

28 May is a week ahead! we are very thrilled to have so many events planned by our amazing partners:

a selection below:

NAIROBI, Kenya: Large event in Tharaka Nithi county with government representatives and 3,000 girls. !

DELHI, India: Bejhijhak - Instigating Collective Action on Menstruation, a national level event aiming to create a collaborative platform for organizations and individuals to work towards making menstruation a non-issue in India.

KATHMANDU, Nepal: NFCC is initiating a nation-wide intervention with the Ministries of Health & Education, 72 radio stations and NGO partners to break the silence & raise awareness.

BERLIN, Germany: From May 28 - June 2, will be a Breaking the Bloody Taboo exhibition featuring Gesine Schwan, performance art, comedy and workshops about sustainable femcare alternatives. Contact Denise to learn more!

Global
World Premiere of MONTHLIES the new 25-minute film by Diana Fabianova. Contact us if you want to screen the film! Monthlies“ ,


The full list of events can be found here!

Feel free to use the ACTION TOOLKIT
Let us know your plans for MH Day!

We are extremely thrilled that May 28th is gaining momentum across the world.

The FREE Menstrual Hygiene ACTION Kit is now available!

• Factsheets: Menstrual hygiene is fundamental to health, education, economy, environment, human rights and boys& men - get the facts!
• MHM infographic - share me online!
• 28 Conversations - a guide for how to start the conversation
• MH Day Social Media Toolkit
• #MenstruationMatters Sign
• Menstrual Hygiene Day Press Release Bracelet Making Guide & T-Shirt Designs
• Menstrual Hygiene Day Press Release

for more info:
visit www.menstrualhygieneday.org
or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear all
Maybe you have heard or even followed May #MENSTRAVAGANZA (WASH United's 28-day social media campaign cycle dedicated to menstruation & menstrual hygiene) that concluded yesterday. Harvesting the momentum that the Menstravaganza created and recognizing that the need for a wider platform for Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) advocacy, we are reaching out to you to make the 28th of May in 2014 – and beyond – a globally recognized Menstrual Hygiene Day .

Please note that this is just a pre-announcement. The Day is initiated by WASH United, but we really hope to get a broad base of partners, individuals and organizations on board to create a united voice for women and girls around the topic of menstrual hygiene and bring even more attention to this important topic.

In the next 12 months leading up to the 28th of May 2014, the aim is to build stronger partnerships, a joint communications strategy, and a shared, neutral platform via a website to bring menstrual hygiene issues into the spotlight.

What you can do to support Menstrual Hygiene Day:

• Send us your logo by Friday, the 31st May so we can include it the final version of the Press Release.
• Share the final version of the Press Release to your network, creating buzz and awareness for MH DAY (we will send final version in early June)
• Simply start talking about it – in-person or via social media – starting now! Hashtags #MHDAY #MenstruationMatters #MENSTRAVAGANZA

Hope you will join this amazing group of dedicated people and organisations.

If you want to contact us, send your logo, or have questions, please do not hesitate to write to us.

Ina & Danielle

Ina Jurga- Head of WASH in Schools
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Danielle Keiser - Social Media Strategist
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.