Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld 🌍🩸
Every day, 800 million people aged 15–49 menstruate, yet many face more than physical discomfort. In many regions, stigma, myths, and harmful norms around menstruation lead to discrimination, exclusion, and even early marriage. Girls often miss school due to lack of products, pain, or poor sanitation, while others remain unprepared due to limited education. For over 26 million displaced women and girls, managing menstruation with dignity is even harder. While some progress has been made in tackling period poverty, more is needed to normalize menstruation and uphold the rights of all who menstruate—including women, girls, transgender men, and non-binary people. Menstrual health is a human rights issue. Barriers like poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to information and safe facilities restrict opportunities in education, work, and social participation—worsened during crises. Promoting menstrual health is essential to well-being. Expanding access to products, education, sanitation, and global safety standards ensures dignity, equity, and inclusion.
Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025
The theme for this year is: Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. “Together” is crucial. No one can solve the menstruation-related challenges women* face alone. But together, we can. [1]Families, educators, healthcare providers and employers all have vital roles in creating environments where people can manage menstruation with dignity and without barriers. Working together can dismantle stigmas and help give everyone access to supplies, to information to make their own choices and to facilities that are clean, safe and private.
The History of MH Day
Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed every year on May 28 to raise awareness and promote action around menstrual health and hygiene (MHH). It was initiated by the German non-profit organization WASH United in 2014, with the aim of breaking the silence, challenging taboos, and advocating for the rights and dignity of all who menstruate. This is when a 28-day social media campaign was launched to spread awareness around different aspects of menstruation. Motivated by the positive response around the campaign, Menstrual Hygiene Day was observed for the first time on May 28, 2014 with rallies, exhibitions, workshops, speeches etc.
The date May 28 was chosen symbolically: the average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, and the average duration of menstruation is 5 days—hence the 28th day of the 5th month. [2]
Why is Menstrual Hygiene Day important?
Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28) brings global attention to the often-overlooked issue of menstrual health and hygiene. It helps break the stigma and silence surrounding menstruation, encouraging open conversations that normalize it as a natural biological process. The day raises awareness of the challenges millions face in managing their periods with dignity, particularly those affected by poverty, conflict, or displacement. By framing menstrual health as a human rights issue, it reinforces efforts toward gender equality, as lack of access to products and safe facilities limits education, employment, and empowerment. Menstrual Hygiene Day also serves as a platform to advocate for policy change—calling for increased funding, free products, improved sanitation, and menstrual education. It promotes innovation and investment in sustainable, affordable menstrual solutions, especially in low-resource settings. Most importantly, the day unites individuals, communities, and institutions in a global movement to ensure no one is held back because of their period—fostering dignity, inclusion, and equality.
Menstrual Leave
Menstrual leave is a workplace policy that allows individuals who menstruate to take time off when experiencing menstrual discomfort, ensuring they can manage their health without compromising work performance. While still not widespread globally, several countries have introduced such policies through legislation.
Japan was among the first to adopt menstrual leave in 1947, allowing women to take leave without a mandatory salary provision—though around 30% of companies offer partial or full pay. Spain became the first European country to pass a law offering paid leave for period pain, requiring a doctor’s note but no set limit on duration. In South Korea, women are entitled to one unpaid day of menstrual leave per month, and employers who deny it may face fines.
Indonesia permits two paid days of leave monthly, though enforcement varies. Taiwan allows three paid menstrual leave days per year, paid at 50% of salary. Zambia’s 2015 policy, known as “Mother’s Day,” grants one day off monthly without a doctor’s note, regardless of parental status. In the Philippines, the 2019 law provides two days of paid menstrual leave each month.
Vietnam entitles women to three days of menstrual leave per month plus a 30-minute daily break, with extra pay for those who forgo leave. Bangladesh introduced two days of paid leave monthly in 2017. Canada currently has no federal menstrual leave policy, but some private employers offer it voluntarily.
Globally, some companies are independently adopting menstrual leave to support employee well-being, even in the absence of national legislation. These policies aim to promote workplace inclusivity and recognize menstruation as a legitimate health concern.
In conclusion, menstrual leave allows individuals to prioritize self-care, rest, and recovery, boosting well-being and productivity. It also helps reduce stress and addresses health needs while challenging stigma and normalizing menstruation in the workplace. This policy supports a more inclusive, compassionate, and understanding work environment for all who menstruate.
#MenstrualHygieneDay2025
