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終結「月經貧窮」 蘇格蘭政府免費送衛生用品
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Have you heard about “period poverty”? Some women and girls can’t afford to buy menstrual products or don’t have access to safe, hygienic sanitary products. In fact, many women around the world, including those living in developed countries, are unable to manage their periods and have been impacted by period poverty.
聽過「月經貧窮」這個概念嗎？許多女性及女孩無法負擔月經用品，或是無法取得安全、乾淨的衛生用品。事實上，包含那些已開發國家，世界上有許多女性無法好好處理生理期問題，生活嚴重地被「月經貧窮」影響著。
Scotland is poised to become the first country to end this uncertain situation by providing free sanitary products to women of all ages.
蘇格蘭已經準備好成為全球第一個免費提供女性衛生用品的國家，終結「月經貧窮」。
The legislation would make tampons and sanitary pads available at designated public places such as community centers, youth clubs, and pharmacies at an estimated annual cost of 24.1 million pounds.
蘇格蘭立法院同意在社區中心、青年俱樂部及藥局等指定地點提供衛生棉條及衛生棉，估計一年將花費2410萬英鎊(約新台幣9億7171億元)。
The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill passed through its first stage with 112 votes in favor, none against, and one abstention. It now moves on to the second stage, where members of the devolved Scottish parliament can propose amendments. Before the approval of the new bill, free menstrual products were already available to students in high schools, colleges, and universities across Scotland.
這項《蘇格蘭月經產品免費提供法案》以112票贊成、0票反對以及1票棄權通過，現在已經進入第二階段，蘇格蘭議會可再提出修正。而早在這項法案通過之前，蘇格蘭的高中、大學中都已有提供衛生用品。
Monica Lennon, the lawmaker who proposed the bill, said she was thrilled that it had attracted support across Scotland, including from civic groups and “individuals who have experienced period poverty and know what it is like not to have access to products when they need them.”
提出《蘇格蘭月經產品免費提供法案》草案的議員Monica Lennon表示她非常雀躍，這項法案吸引了全國支持，包含許多公民團體及那些經歷過「月經貧窮」的女性們，她們深知需要衛生用品卻無法取得的感受。
During debate, Scottish lawmaker Alison Johnstone once asked: “Why is it in 2020 that toilet paper is seen as a necessity but period products aren’t? Being financially penalized for a natural bodily function is not equitable or just.”
在該法案的辯論中，蘇格蘭議員Alison Johnstone曾質問：「都2020了，為什麼衛生紙是必需品，但女性生理用品不是？女性因為自然生理現象而受到金錢懲罰，這樣是不公平或不公正的。」
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參考資料：The New York Times, Reuters, ABC News, Aljazeera, The Guardian, Mexico news daily
編輯/馬婉娟、黃煒齡
收錄於英語島 2020年04月號
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