Invited on the set of “C à vous” on France 5, Elisabeth Borne announced the reimbursement by Social Security of reusable sanitary protection from next year for women under the age of 25.
This new measure, announced two days before International Women’s Rights Day (March 8), was necessary according to Elisabeth Borne, who considers “unthinkable that women cannot have the protections they want”. “Menstrual poverty is a reality that affects too many women. It’s a daily injustice, ”tweeted Elisabeth Borne Monday evening after the show.
Menstrual insecurity is a reality that affects too many women. It is a daily injustice. From 2024, reusable period protection will be reimbursed by social security for women aged 25 and under. pic.twitter.com/ouTqqbG7xz — Élisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) March 6, 2023
To fight against menstrual precariousness, the government announced in 2021 the introduction of free hygienic protection for students in universities and in Crous residences. A measure very well received by feminist associations, which have been alerting public opinion and providing assistance to the most disadvantaged for years.
4 million women affected by menstrual poverty
In France, 4 million women are affected by menstrual precariousness according to a survey by the association Rules Elementary. A figure that has doubled since 2021.
Indeed, because of their very high prices and inflation, many women encounter great difficulty in regularly financing their protection. And among these women, there are many young people, single mothers or women on the street, with low or no income.
After Scotland, France will therefore become the second country to adopt this free service. But the refund is applicable under conditions.
Did you know ? This measure has an estimated cost of between 30 and 50 million per year.
What will be the conditions to benefit from the refund?
In addition to having less than 25 months, it will be necessary to go to a pharmacy without a prescription to benefit from reimbursement.
These protections must also be reusable: therefore only washable pads or panties and menstrual cups are concerned. An ecological choice for the government, because disposable protections are not recyclable and represent approximately 96 kg of waste during the life of a woman, according to calculations by Futura Science.
Even if this announcement is welcomed by many players, some voices are raised about the limited choice of products. Maud Leblon, the director of Elementary Rules, explains to the Progress that the ideal would be for “each woman to be able to choose the protection that best suits her, and this is not always reusable. Sometimes reusables are not adapted to working, hygienic or living conditions since you have to have a washing machine, sanitary facilities available…”
To overcome this problem, the government will help municipalities install sanitary protection dispensers in public places and will double the sums allocated to associations by 2027.
Next step, but not least: ensure the standards of reusable sanitary protection sold in pharmacies, which currently do not exist!
LR