Speakers

• Candice Chirwa
• Dr Radha Paudel
• Dr Inga Winkler — Wageningen University & Research
• Professor Muthusamy Sivakami — Tata Institute of Social Sciences
• Professor Joyce C Harper — University College London

Abstract

Menstrual health, defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to the menstrual cycle (Hennegan et al., 2021), is increasingly recognized as a critical human rights issue, not merely one of hygiene. Yet, it remains an under-addressed dimension of global health equality, with implications across education, work, health, and participation in public life. To date, efforts have too often been narrowly conceived, focusing on the provision of menstrual products. This ensures that material needs are met but falls short of comprehensively realizing human rights.
People who menstruate experience discrimination, exclusion and stigmatization, which is reinforced by deep-rooted narratives in which menstruation is considered shameful and dirty, leading to anxiety and low self-confidence in adolescents. This stigma persists into adulthood and peri-menopause, shaping negative workplace experiences, discouraging health-seeking behaviors, and stalling policy progress. For many people, menstrual stigma is compounded by race, ethnicity, caste, gender identity and other factors.
These experiences are not only shaped by individual behavior and interpersonal relationships but are structurally embedded. Integrating menstrual health into primary care and public health systems is therefore critical to closing persistent gaps in health policies and services. Building on this need, this panel brings together researchers and advocates across regions to identify pathways that affirm menstrual health as a human right.

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