Jakarta (ANTARA) – Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi said the ministry is committed to ensuring that gender justice and policies’ impact on women’s basic needs, including menstrual hygiene products, are considered in cross-sector policymaking.
“Menstruation is a natural biological process that is part of women’s reproductive cycle, experienced routinely and impossible to avoid,” Fauzi said here on Sunday.
She said support from many parties is therefore needed so people can access safe, decent, and affordable menstrual sanitation products, especially those from vulnerable and lower socio-economic groups.
According to Fauzi, sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene products are women’s basic needs and an important part of fulfilling reproductive health rights.
Meeting those needs also supports women’s cleanliness, comfort, and health, as well as enables them to carry out daily activities safely and with dignity.
The minister stressed the importance of considering women’s specific needs in formulating every policy.
Policies on menstrual hygiene products are expected to accommodate a gender perspective and women’s needs, so they can support equal access to fulfilling reproductive health rights and women’s welfare.
“We should build awareness that every woman has the right to access safe, decent, and affordable menstrual sanitation products. Let us together create an environment that cares more about women’s health,” she said.
She added that meeting women’s basic needs is also part of realizing a more equal and prosperous life.
“Meeting women’s basic or specific needs means ensuring women can live healthy, safe, productive, and dignified lives. When women’s needs are considered in every policy, we are actually building healthier families, a more inclusive society, and a more equal and prosperous Indonesia,” the minister said.
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Translator: Anita, Kenzu
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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