Menstruation, an integral and unavoidable aspect of life for most women and menstruators, remains an overlooked and stigmatized topic. Approximately 1.8 billion women and menstruators exist worldwide, with 800 million currently experiencing their period. Many of them attempt to conceal their bleeding or have trouble obtaining sanitary products.

In Mexico, where women comprise 50% of the population, 60% are aged between 10 and 54. Almost half of these women live in poverty, which restricts their access to proper menstrual management resources. This is particularly evident in Querétaro, where approximately 308,900 impoverished women face menstrual poverty on a daily basis.

Our project is focused on eradicating menstrual poverty starting in Querétaro, Mexico.

In 2021, we organized volunteer efforts to collect menstrual product donations for women in rural communities lacking access to proper menstrual management supplies. The remoteness of these communities makes it difficult for them to obtain necessary products without traveling long distances.

Additionally, communities with available sanitary products often sell them at extremely high prices or do not even consider them essential items. This situation forces women to use improvised alternatives such as toilet paper, cotton fabric, or sponges to manage their menstruation.

Determined to find a solution, we embarked on a mission to deliver more donations and information to girls, teenagers, and women in these communities.

Menstrual poverty encompasses not only product shortages but also issues related to education, information access, restroom availability, handwashing facilities, and waste management.

By visiting these communities, we discovered numerous opportunities to support other women. And thus "Colectiva MenstruAcción" (Collective MenstruAction) was born.

Our project encompasses five main areas:

• 
  Legislative: Public policy mechanisms to ensure menstrual hygiene access.


• 
  Education: Workshops and conferences for schools, institutions, women, and girls.


• 
  Awareness: Dissemination and reflection on gender situations affecting menstrual poverty through social media and our own documentary.


• 
  Support for vulnerable communities: Brigades providing menstrual hygiene products, addressing questions or concerns about menstruation.


• 
  Entrepreneurship: Talks and workshops on creating reusable fabric sanitary pads at the Casa Otomí community center for personal use, generating income for indigenous women.

As members of Colectiva MenstruAcción (Collective MenstrualAction) our mission is to go above and beyond. We persistently strive to promote initiatives that consider the needs of girls and women who are frequently denied their rights. 

We take great pride in the fact that our efforts have led to a positive impact on more than 3,500 women, as well as the successful approval of a legal reform advocating for improved menstrual health conditions.

We are committed to supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concerning gender equality, health, and well-being by advocating for menstrual health and dignity as well as aligning with UNFPA's focus on promoting and improving menstrual health around the world, contributing to global efforts to achieve gender equality and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Moreover, our efforts fit within Mexico's National Development Plan 2019-2024 to ensure employment, education, health, and well-being and Querétaro's State Development Plan 2021-2027 under its first guiding principle of Health and Dignified Life.

Over the past three years, our project has significantly impacted over 3,500 individuals through a multifaceted approach involving workshops, donations, training campaigns, and participation in events like forums and panel discussions. We actively engage with the communities we serve to create meaningful change. 

Our project is designed for replication and continuous growth. By adapting and expanding, we strive to increase our reach and impact even more lives in the future.  

In the upcoming year, we plan to distribute our Menstrual Dignity manual and menstrual cycle calendars while providing training to reach a wider audience of women in Querétaro and to continue promoting reforms to laws as well as initiatives in our state and country in favor of dignified menstrual health.

Additionally, we are working on launching a toolkit to equip young women with the resources they need to establish their own Menstrual Dignity initiatives in their communities and to create impactful projects with women from the Otomí house in the San Idelfonso community in Amealco, Querétaro, aiming to improve income, provide eco-friendly menstrual management options, and make practical changes in areas with limited waste collection and access to disposable products.

We depend on our existing partnerships, cooperation, and strategic planning to accomplish these objectives.

Our impact objectives align with our dedication to addressing menstrual health and fostering menstrual dignity in underprivileged communities.

More information: https://linktr.ee/menstruaccion