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29/04/2024
Assembly Approves New Regulations On Free Period Products
The Assembly has approved new regulations to ensure free period products are available to learners and staff at local further education colleges and higher education institutions.
Welcoming the announcement, Economy Minister Conor Murphy, has said that nobody should miss out on learning because of period poverty,
The Minister continued: "Research has shown that women can often struggle to afford sanitary products and can find themselves using unsuitable products as a result. In further and higher education settings, students experiencing period poverty can find that they are unable to attend classes or even exams if they do not have access to period products. This is unacceptable and an issue I am glad to be able to address."
The Minister added: "Today's move builds on the success of previous pilot programmes in local further and higher education settings which have seen more than 180,000 period products distributed free and helped reduce period poverty."
The draft Period Products (the Department for the Economy Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (NI) 2022 were laid before the Assembly on 29 March 2024 and will come into effect after being approved. The regulations relate to the Department for the Economy's section 2 duties under the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (NI) 2022.
Welcoming the announcement, Economy Minister Conor Murphy, has said that nobody should miss out on learning because of period poverty,
The Minister continued: "Research has shown that women can often struggle to afford sanitary products and can find themselves using unsuitable products as a result. In further and higher education settings, students experiencing period poverty can find that they are unable to attend classes or even exams if they do not have access to period products. This is unacceptable and an issue I am glad to be able to address."
The Minister added: "Today's move builds on the success of previous pilot programmes in local further and higher education settings which have seen more than 180,000 period products distributed free and helped reduce period poverty."
The draft Period Products (the Department for the Economy Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (NI) 2022 were laid before the Assembly on 29 March 2024 and will come into effect after being approved. The regulations relate to the Department for the Economy's section 2 duties under the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (NI) 2022.
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Belfast City Council Wins Prestigious Environmental Award
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Environmental charity, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, has awarded Belfast City Council a prestigious award in recognition of its free reusable period products initiative. The council won the Behaviour Change Award for its 'impactful and pioneering' pilot project which tackles single-use plastic.
27 June 2023
Free Period Products Consultation Launched
A new public consultation has been launched on the provision of free period products, with the Executive Office seeking input on the development of new legislation. The consultation states that period products are essential items for personal care and should be available to everyone who needs them, regardless of their economic status.
Free Period Products Consultation Launched
A new public consultation has been launched on the provision of free period products, with the Executive Office seeking input on the development of new legislation. The consultation states that period products are essential items for personal care and should be available to everyone who needs them, regardless of their economic status.
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