Today, May 28, Harambee Collective joins the international community in observing World Menstrual Hygiene Day and calling for a period-friendly world for all.

The movement, Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, reminds us that menstrual equity is not just a health and hygiene issue—it’s a human right that an estimated 500 million people currently lack. Every day, girls, women, and people who menstruate are barred from educational and income-earning opportunities due to a lack of access to menstrual products and menstrual health services. Their resulting absence creates far-reaching effects that negatively impact families, communities, and entire regions.

This is especially true for those living in conflict-affected areas like Tigray and Sudan. Displacement, lack of essential resources, and disruptions in health services make it incredibly difficult to manage menstruation safely and with the privacy those who menstruate deserve. Without access to basic supplies like pads, clean water, and toilets, individuals are at risk of infection and further marginalization.

For a period-friendly world, menstrual health and hygiene must be integrated into humanitarian response and everyday community engagement—not as an afterthought, but as a core part of supporting survivors and their rights to health and bodily autonomy.

At Harambee Collective, we work at the intersection of health and justice. That means confronting menstrual stigma, investing in menstrual health education, advancing access to affordable and sustainable menstrual products, and advocating for inclusive policies that uphold the dignity and autonomy of all who menstruate while recognizing their diverse needs.

On World Menstrual Hygiene Day—and every day—we stand in solidarity with grassroots organizers, educators, health advocates, and communities around the globe working towards a period-friendly world.