Report: Breaking Taboos and Raising Awareness International Day of the Girl Child Webinar

Background
Menstrual health is a fundamental aspect of human rights and public health. However, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), especially those who are part of adolescent young key populations (aYKP) groups–especially young trans people–continue to experience poor menstrual health as a result of a lack of access to menstrual products, lack of education, ongoing taboos, and stigma around menstruation.

According to a 2023 study by UNICEF, adolescent girls in the Asia-Pacific region reported feeling uninformed about  menstruation and unsure how to care for their body.  These barriers are even more prevalent for AGYW and aYKPs in rural areas and become exacerbated in crisis situations. These issues shine a spotlight on the importance of promoting good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) among AGYW and aYKPs. 

Youth LEAD is the regional network of Asia Pacific that empowers young key populations (YKPs) through Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Development. Youth LEAD works in 19 countries, to empower YKPs to advocate for their needs and improve young people's involvement in community, national and regional HIV programming processes. 

Y-PEER Asia Pacific Center (Y-PEER AP) is a network of youth-led organisations and youth advocates that promote young people's Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) through Peer Education and other innovative approaches. In the Asia Pacific Region, Y-PEER AP has been working closely with more than 15 National Networks, partner organisations, CSOs, and government bodies focusing on issues linking HIV and young people's SRHR.

In commemoration of International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October 2024, Youth LEAD and Y-PEER AP, in collaboration with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF) Girls Act Programme in the Asia-Pacific, aims to conduct a webinar entitled ‘Breaking Taboos and Raising Awareness’ to demystify some myths, unpack cultural taboos, and promote menstrual health and hygiene for AGYW and aYKPs, especially in rural areas and during crisis situations. 

The objectives of the webinar are as follows:

• Create a safe space for dialogue on menstrual health and hygiene for AGYW and aYKPs
• Raise awareness on menstrual health and hygiene, especially the barriers that  AGYW and aYKPs face in rural areas and during crisis situations
• Emphasize the importance of youth leadership and engagement in addressing menstrual health and hygiene for young people
• Highlight the policy changes and specific needs of YKPs for Menstrual Hygiene and other SRHR needs

For more details, see the report below: