Developmental Partners Call on Government to Scrap Taxes on Sanitary Pads for Girls’ Education
By Denilson Deneki
In a recent call to action, developmental partners and government officials alike have urged the South Sudanese government to exempt taxes on sanitary pads in order to support menstrual hygiene management and enhance girls’ education in the country.
Hon. Nyang Johnson Lok, Chairperson of Gender Child and Social Welfare at TNLA, emphasized the collective responsibility of addressing this matter, stating, “It’s the responsibility of the Government to address the matter…we must work together to address it, not just the government alone.”
Samuel Deng, Director General for Alternative Education System at the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to promoting menstrual hygiene management in schools. He highlighted the incorporation of gender equity in the curriculum and the support provided by partners like the Girl Education in South Sudan (GESS) through cash transfers for sanitary pads and other materials.
Ademola Olajide, the Country Representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), stressed the critical role of menstrual hygiene management in population growth, noting the impact on the health, social well-being, and productivity of women and girls. Olajide emphasized the necessity of ensuring that women and girls can manage menstruation with dignity.
During the International Day for Menstrual Health Management celebration, Dara Johnson of UNICEF urged the transitional unity government to waive taxes on sanitary pads to prevent girls from dropping out of school. Johnson emphasized the importance of making essential period products affordable, stating, “Menstrual period products must be affordable, this is a right.”
With an estimated 2.8 million children, mostly girls, having dropped out of school due to conflict, forced child marriages, and other reasons, the need to provide accessible and affordable menstrual hygiene products is crucial for promoting girls’ education in South Sudan.
Johnson highlighted that menstrual hygiene management is integral to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health, education, WASH, and the environment. He also underscored the importance of the private sector meeting the demand for menstrual management products to ensure a period-friendly environment for women in South Sudan.
The collaborative efforts of developmental partners, government officials, and organizations are aimed at breaking taboos associated with menstruation, providing necessary facilities in schools, and ensuring the availability and affordability of sanitary pads to support girls’ education and overall well-being in South Sudan.
