Madrid has approved legislation providing women with painful periods with the option to take 3-5 days of paid “menstrual leave.” The laws were passed along with the package of sexual and reproductive rights legislation. Thereby becoming the first European country to take such a progressive step that guarantees better menstrual health.
The driving force behind this, Irene Montero, Spanish Equality Minister, tweeted on February 16th: “Today is a historic day of progress in feminist rights: the new abortion law, the Trans Law, and LGTBI rights are going to be law.”
Menstrual health and menstrual leave for women in the workplace have been an impugned topic across the globe, further evoking the question of paid or unpaid leave.
As the topic of menstruation itself has a complementary baggage of taboos and stereotypes attached to it, the idea of leave is often associated with women’s efficiency at the workplace and related sexism. Therefore, such progressive initiatives become essential to bringing about systematic change and dismantling myths.
As part of the new legislation, period products will be provided free of charge in schools and prisons. State-run healthcare centers now provide free hormonal contraceptives and morning-after pills to support women’s reproductive rights.
Medical practitioners will not be forced to comply despite the new overarching measures, provided they have registered their objections or reservations regarding it in writing.
Furthermore, addressing discrimination and violence based on gender identity, sex characteristics, and sexual orientation, the provision puts a ban on genital mutilation of intersex children, gears up to end so-called “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ people, and provides state support for lesbians and single mothers seeking IVF treatment. (UN News)
The decision was hailed by various independent experts of the United Nations, as the package of measures aims at promoting social inclusivity in multiple sectors like health, education, employment, etc.
#Spain: UN experts welcome new comprehensive anti-discrimination and feminist legislation which guarantees and facilitates access to sexual & #ReproductiveRights for all: “The history of feminism is a story of persistence in the face of social injustice”
👉https://t.co/ZssUc84Odo pic.twitter.com/3VOJzv2ulL— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) February 21, 2023
Describes the legislation as the “fundamental feminist achievement” and lauds the law as a step towards the agenda for social progress.