Sanitary products are, and should be considered, a basic human right. Which is why Dundee-based artist Becca Blackburn is launching a scheme to raise awareness of the lack of provision for those experiencing homelessness.
Her idea is to make and sell canvas bags, with all profits going towards sanitary products for rough and insecure sleepers. She’s taken inspiration from #thehomelessperiod campaign, who suggest donating tampons and pads to food banks and refugees.
“I’m sure many are aware of the nonsense that is the Tampon Tax,” she writes on her blog. “Last week the European Commission announced that countries would now have the power to to decide their own tax on sanitary products.
This is an amazing step for gender equality, but these items are still a real necessity for women and I believe they should be made more accessible. I’m talking about women and young girls who are homeless. Those who struggle to gather enough money for food, never mind tampons.”
Becca plans to make a range of her canvas bags out of sustainable and organic materials, and is looking for amateur and professional artists and doodlers to assist her with design process.
She writes: “You get your work printed and advertised for free as well as the knowledge that you have participated in a good cause where the proceeds go towards donating sanitary products to local homeless shelters. I am starting small in Dundee but looking to take it to Glasgow too.”
Read more at: beccablackburn.wordpress.com & find her on Twitter @BeccaBlackburnT
Words: Ana Hine
Artificial Womb recognises that not only women have periods, and similarly, that not all women have periods.
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