Community and NGO Collaboration

Community and NGO collaboration plays a pivotal role in addressing period poverty among disabled women. By working together, they can foster awareness, provide resources, and advocate for inclusivity in menstrual care.

Importance of Collaboration

• Empowering Local Communities: Community-driven initiatives bring attention to the unique menstrual challenges faced by disabled women.

• Amplifying Reach: NGOs have the resources to scale campaigns, distribute products, and provide educational programs.

• Enhancing Accessibility: Collaborative efforts can ensure public spaces and products cater to the needs of disabled women.

Examples of NGO Initiatives

1. Bulan Sisters: Provides menstrual kits to the underprivileged women and girls.

   
   

   

   
   

2. The She Society: championing the cause of period poverty in Malaysia

   
   

   

   
   

3. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM): Conduct workshops nationwide to provide information on menstrual health and stigmatisation. For example, they launched 'Haid, Jangan Hide' campaign to address period poverty.

https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2024/01/08/women039s-ngo-launches-039haid-don039t-hide039-campaign-to-address-period-poverty#:~:text=To%20confront%20period%20poverty%2C%20Awam,annual%20report%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20says

-          During MCO, AWAM worked together with Kampung Tunku ADUN, YB Lim Yi Wei to distribute sanitary napkins to those in urgent need. They contribute 500 pads which had originally been donated to AWAM by Kotex Malaysia.

https://www.awam.org.my/2020/04/08/period-poverty-aid-during-the-mco/

4. SERUM: Provide an online platform for underserved communities to market their handmade products. They collect funds donated and provide hygiene supplies to the underserved communities. They also have collaborations with NGOs such as Tanma Foundation, Taylor's Community, Majlis Belia Malaysia, etc.

https://www.givinghub.asia/campaigns/menstrualequity

Policy Advocacy for Inclusive Menstrual Care

Policy advocacy in Malaysia aims to tackle period poverty and promote inclusive menstrual care for women with disabilities. Addressing these challenges requires reforming existing policies and integrating disability-inclusive strategies into national initiatives.

Current Policy Gaps in Malaysia

1. Limited Accessibility in Public Facilities: Many public restrooms lack menstrual product dispensers, disposal bins, and accessible designs for disabled users.

2. Lack of Subsidized Menstrual Products: There is no nationwide initiative to provide free or subsidized menstrual products, especially adaptive ones for women with disabilities.

3. Minimal Inclusion of Menstrual Health Education: Menstrual health education in schools rarely addresses the unique needs of disabled women, leaving a critical gap in awareness and inclusivity.

4. Insufficient Healthcare Support: Policies rarely include access to disability-friendly healthcare services that address menstrual hygiene management.

   
   

Steps to Advocate for Change in Malaysia

1. Engage with Government Agencies: Partner with the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) to push for inclusive menstrual health programs.

2. Policy Integration in Education: Advocate for menstrual health to be part of the national school curriculum under the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE), focusing on inclusivity.

3. Pilot Subsidy Programs: Collaborate with agencies such as PERKESO to initiate financial aid or free menstrual product programs for disabled women from low-income families.

4. Leverage Data for Advocacy: Conduct nationwide studies to highlight the prevalence of period poverty among disabled women and use the findings to support policy reforms.

Inspirations from Local and Global Examples

• Malaysia’s Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (Akta Orang Kurang Upaya) provides a foundation for disability rights, which can be extended to cover menstrual care.

• Scotland’s Period Products Act serves as a global benchmark for universal access to menstrual products, adaptable to Malaysia’s socioeconomic context.

Call to Action:

1. Petitions and Campaigns: Support online and offline campaigns to demand free menstrual products for disabled women, modelled after successful programs in other countries. Launch nationwide campaigns (e.g. Flow4AllAbilities).

2. Engage Stakeholders: Partner with local organizations such as the Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation (MCR) and National Council for the Blind, Malaysia (NCBM) to champion menstrual inclusivity.

3. Community Workshops: Empower grassroots movements to advocate for menstrual health rights and educate communities about existing and proposed policies.

An additional information I founded (can refer as example):

https://taylorshostel.taylors.edu.my/launchpad/#:~:text=What%20is%20Launchpad%20about?,improve%20and%20expand%20its%20impact