Menstrual Health Rights

Shailza Agarwal and Rishi Raj
Symbiosis Law School, Noida

Volume III, Issue IV, 2020

The raison d’être of the paper is to dispense an overview on the importance of Menstrual Health and the Constitutional and Human rights which come associated with it. Providing an introduction about the basics of health and process of menstruation, the paper proceeds to discuss how various religions perceive the biological process and court set precedents which emphasize the right to health. The paper analyses the pertinent and landmark case of the Sabrimala Temple. The paper moves forward with the Government policies in place to ensure dignity and rights of women followed by an in-depth analysis of The Women’s Sexual, Reproductive and Menstrual Rights Bill, 2018 introduced by Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala M.P.- Mr Shashi Tharoor. Furthermore, The paper talks about menstrual health rights of women across the globe and the UNFPA initiative regarding the same. The paper in its last section talks about the impact and consequences of poor menstrual health and hygiene on the physical and mental health of women. The paper aims to spread awareness among stakeholders as well as citizens of India that it is high time we honour women and give them the share of dignity they deserve and move forward to a society that does not see menstruation as a taboo.