Last year, Secretary Penny Mordaunt announced a UK government campaign pledging to eradicate period poverty globally by 2030.

Now it’s time to hold the government to account on this commitment.

No girl should lose out on education as a result of stigma around menstruation or lack of access to sanitary products.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, I’m introducing a Bill that will do just that, ensuring Ministers are regularly reporting on steps taken to meet this target:

International Development (Women’s Sanitary Products)

Bill to require the Secretary of State to report on the use of official development assistance to increase the availability of women’s sanitary products; and for connected purposes.

No girl should lose out on education as a result of stigma around menstruation or lack of access to sanitary products. This is an intolerable situation that is all-too-real for thousands of women and girls around the world.

“Period poverty continues to have damaging consequences for women and girls all over the world.” – @wendychambLD

We must raise our ambition to work with international partners to help end period poverty & challenge broader stigma around menstruation. #IWD2020 pic.twitter.com/Y93NJq1l9n

— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) March 4, 2020

This legislation would build on measures taken to end period poverty within the UK, with the recent roll out of free sanitary products in Wales and England.

Ending global period poverty would deliver enormous benefits to women around the world.

As the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for International Development, I’m proud of my party’s internationalist values and of the fact that the UK has consistently ranked as one of the world’s largest aid donors.

Ending global period poverty would deliver enormous benefits to women around the world. I hope to see the new Secretary of State for International Development show leadership in taking forward my Bill, in solidarity with women around the world.

2020 has enormous potential for us.

We need to make the most of that – and now is a great time to build up your local party by activating more of your members.

When I first learnt election campaigning, one of the rules of thumb was that ‘every leaflet before Christmas is worth two after’. It was based on the experience of thousands of different campaigners ahead of May local (and indeed general) elections.

Every day, girls at school are being teased, bullied or even humiliated and punished for being on their period. Equally, children with medical conditions face similar stigma.

Many girls starting their periods are being denied access to the toilet during school lessons, with some schools even enforcing a blanket ban on children going to the toilet in lesson time.

A survey for Plan International UK found that more than half of girls aged 14-21 had missed class because they were worried about being on their period.

It’s time to put an end to the unnecessary anxiety & embarrassment of being on your period.

Today @LaylaMoran is proposing a new law to support teachers to act flexibly & sensitively when letting children use the toilet during lesson time. #IWD2020 https://t.co/jUhF9rk7x8

— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) March 3, 2020

That’s why ahead of International Women’s Day, I have put forward legislation to help ensure pupils have access to toilets during lesson times:

School Toilets (Access During Lessons) Bill

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish guidance for state-funded schools on allowing pupil access to toilets during lessons; and for connected purposes.

The Bill would force the Secretary of State to publish guidance for state-funded schools enabling teachers to use their common sense in letting their students go the bathroom during their lessons.

It’s key that we support teachers to act flexibly and sensitively when letting children use the toilet. That starts with the Government publishing compulsory guidance explaining why blanket bans on using the toilet in lesson time is problematic.

No child should miss out on their education because of their period or a medical condition. I hope to see the Conservatives take forward my Bill in supporting all students in getting the education they deserve.

This article will discuss matters relating to sexual assault.