HR0701 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0701 LRB102 26540 LAW 37147 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, All over the world, persons who menstruate face numerous challenges in managing their menstruation, including pads and other supplies being unavailable or unaffordable, a lack of access to safe toilet facilities with clean water where they can clean themselves in privacy, discriminatory cultural norms or practices that make it difficult to maintain good menstrual hygiene, a lack of education for all on the topic of menstruation, and other struggles; and

WHEREAS, Poor menstrual hygiene undermines the educational and occupational opportunities, health, and overall social status of persons who menstruate; and

WHEREAS, As a result, millions of persons who menstruate are kept from reaching their full potential; and

WHEREAS, Menstrual Hygiene Day was initiated by the German nonprofit WASH United in 2013; and

WHEREAS, Menstrual Hygiene Day is a global advocacy platform that brings together the voices and actions of nonprofits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector, and the media to promote good menstrual hygiene management for all persons who menstruate; and

WHEREAS, Menstrual Hygiene Day breaks the silence, raises awareness, and changes negative social norms around menstrual hygiene management; and

WHEREAS, Menstrual Hygiene Day engages decision-makers to increase the political priority of and sparks action for menstrual hygiene management at global, national, and local levels; and

WHEREAS, This movement has increased its support and impact each year, resulting in organizers managing to reach a record-breaking 566 million people globally in 2021 with their stigma-breaking and positive health messaging utilizing virtual and physical resources; and

WHEREAS, Menstrual Hygiene Day organizers have set a number of goals to be accomplished by 2030, including ensuring all persons who menstruate have affordable access to menstrual products of their choice, ending period stigma, ensuring access to accurate and useful educational information on menstruation and menstrual health for all, and providing clean water for all to aid in menstrual hygiene; and

WHEREAS, Every person who menstruates should be empowered to manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence, and without shame; no person who menstruates should be limited by something as natural and normal as a period; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May 28, 2022 as Menstrual Hygiene Day in the State of Illinois.