Women MPs 'too shy' to talk about padsWomen lawmakers have tried to sink a National Assembly motion on the provision of free pads to poor girls to improve their school attendance. Talking about menstruation is taboo Women members of the National Assembly yesterday shied away from debating the provision of free feminine hygiene products to needy schoolgirls.The motion was tabled by DTA president McHenry Venaani, who said it was important to remind those who consider the issue taboo that all matters that require developmental intervention are “the issues of MPs”.
Surprisingly, female MPs were not keen on discussing the matter after Venaani concluded his motivation.
“I am embarrassed to discuss menstruation in Parliament,” said Deputy Speaker Loide Kasingo, who was the first woman to contribute to the debate.
The deputy minister of gender equality and child welfare, Lucia Witbooi, also tried to silence the debate by saying the ministry had programmes under which free sanitary pads were provided to “some” schools.
She could not say which schools benefited from the programme, but added that it “just needs to be strengthened”.
In his motion, Venaani said links had been drawn between lack of access to hygiene products and girls'' school attendance. At the same time, the “everyday experiences” of girls with poor access to sanitary products are poorly understood, he said.
Lack of access to feminine hygiene products is one of the factors hampering girls’ school attendance around the world, and discussions on declaring sanitary pads and tampons essential items have been raised in other parliaments.
“Women pay taxes on pads, which makes it more expensive. I think it is time for the legislature to consider removing any tax such as valued added tax (VAT) on this commodity,” Venaani said.
“We provide condoms to help stop the spread of HIV/Aids, yet sanitary pads are expensive. We live in a modern world and our girl child should be given all support to prosper and no biological hindrance should hamper her promise.”
The male MPs supported Venaani’s motion, some of them saying that they have daughters and understand the challenges girls face. They were also aware of the cost of feminine hygiene products.
The female MPs, however, were less supportive.
Witbooi said she did not think such a debate was necessary, because the need for free sanitary pads for schoolgirls had been identified already.
DTA MP Elma Dienda then asked Witbooi to name two of the schools benefiting from the programme, but she could not and instead advised Dienda to approach the ministry''s regional office for a list of school names.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also said she did not see the need for such a debate to be held in the NA if such a programme was in place.
The deputy minister of international relations and cooperation, Peya Mushelenga, insisted that the matter be discussed, though.
“We are wasting time postponing important issues like this and then we want to rush these issues for debate at the last hour when we are about to go into recess,” he said.
The debate was adjourned until next Tuesday.
NAMPA