Consultation on the Period Dignity Strategic Action Plan

The Period Dignity Strategic Action Plan sets out the Welsh Government’s approach to ensuring period dignity in Wales. The Plan is grounded in a commitment to work across Government, and with stakeholders, to develop and deliver a series of wide-ranging, holistically intersecting actions which deliver our vision for period dignity in Wales.

By 2026 we will live in a Wales where:

• periods are fully understood, accepted and normalised. It is widely recognised that periods are not a choice and period products are not a luxury
• those who have periods have access to products of their choice, when and where necessary, in the most dignified way possible
• equitable access to provision across Wales exists, whilst allowing for local arrangements
• the stigma, taboos and myths which exist have been challenged through provision of information and educational resources. No-one is ashamed or embarrassed about periods and can speak openly and confidently about them, whether they have periods or do not
• the potential impact of periods and how they may change during the peri-menopause, menopause and as a result of broader health issues is widely understood and
• this impact is responded to sensitively within education, employment and health based settings
• a broader range of period products are in use, limiting the negative environmental impact of many disposable products
• all those who have periods:
  • fully understand their period and know what it normal for them
  • are confident to seek help and medical advice, if necessary
  • do not face health inequalities when seeking medical advice or help
  • know how best to manage their period to ensure it does not negatively impact on their life
  • have an understanding of the different types of products available, their correct use and disposal, and can choose the most appropriate product for them
  • have access to appropriate facilities to enable them to manage their period in privacy, with dignity and in a healthy way.

Question 1

Do you agree with the vision for period dignity outlined in the plan? What suggestions would you make to improve it?

Question 2

How achievable is the vision within the next five years? What will prevent achievement of the vision and what may help to realise the vision?

Question 3

The Plan is structured by policy theme. Are there themes or specific actions missing from the plan? What are these and whose responsibility are they?

Question 4

Does the Period Dignity Strategic Action plan adequately respond to the intersection between period dignity and period poverty with protected characteristics and the experience of socio economic disadvantage. If not, how can we improve this?

Question 5

What more should the Welsh Government do in relation to broader health based issues such perimenopause, the menopause, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and gynaecological cancers. Do you believe these actions should be included in the Period Dignity Strategic Action Plan or in other policy work?

Question 6

We would like to know your views on the effects that the Period Dignity Strategic Action Plan would have on the Welsh language, specifically on opportunities for people to use Welsh and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than English. 

What effects do you think there would be?  How could positive effects be increased, or negative effects be mitigated? 

Question 7

Please also explain how you believe the Period Dignity Strategic Action Plan could be formulated or changed so as to have positive effects or increased positive effects on opportunities for people to use the Welsh language and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language, and no adverse effects on opportunities for people to use the Welsh language and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language. 

Question 8

We have asked a number of specific questions. If you have any related issues which we have not specifically addressed, please use this space to report them:

Submit your comments by 12 January 2022, in any of the following ways:

• complete our online form
• download, complete our response form and email PeriodDignity@gov.wales
• download, complete our response form and post to:

The Equality Team
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Under the data protection legislation, you have the right:

• to be informed of the personal data held about you and to access it
• to require us to rectify inaccuracies in that data
• to (in certain circumstances) object to or restrict processing
• for (in certain circumstances) your data to be ‘erased’
• to (in certain circumstances) data portability
• to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection.

Responses to consultations are likely to be made public, on the internet or in a report. If you would prefer your response to remain anonymous, please tell us. 

For further details about the information the Welsh Government holds and its use, or if you want to exercise your rights under the GDPR, please see contact details below:

Data Protection Officer

Data Protection Officer
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

E-mail: data.protectionofficer@gov.wales

Information Commissioner’s Office

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 745 or 0303 123 1113

Website: ico.org.uk

UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)

The Welsh Government will be data controller for any personal data you provide as part of your response to the consultation. Welsh Ministers have statutory powers they will rely on to process this personal data which will enable them to make informed decisions about how they exercise their public functions. Any response you send us will be seen in full by Welsh Government staff dealing with the issues which this consultation is about or planning future consultations. Where the Welsh Government undertakes further analysis of consultation responses then this work may be commissioned to be carried out by an accredited third party (e.g. a research organisation or a consultancy company). Any such work will only be undertaken under contract. Welsh Government’s standard terms and conditions for such contracts set out strict requirements for the processing and safekeeping of personal data. In order to show that the consultation was carried out properly, the Welsh Government intends to publish a summary of the responses to this document. We may also publish responses in full. Normally, the name and address (or part of the address) of the person or organisation who sent the response are published with the response. If you do not want your name or address published, please tell us this in writing when you send your response. We will then redact them before publishing.

You should also be aware of our responsibilities under Freedom of Information legislation. If your details are published as part of the consultation response then these published reports will be retained indefinitely. Any of your data held otherwise by Welsh Government will be kept for no more than three years.

Number: WG43466

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