This is the interview is done with Helen from Menopause Cafe, UK. By considering the inaccessibility to all of this interview, major points recorded here for letting you know about the linkage between Dignified Menstruation and Menopause.
1.
Tell us a little about yourself, and what a typical
day looks like for you.
· Namaste, good afternoon. Thank you so much for
having me. I am honored and humbled.
· I am nurse, author, activist and founder for
global south coalition for dignified menstruation
· I am working 24/7 all about dignified
menstruation. Dignified menstruation is simply a state of free from any forms
of taboos, stigma, abuses, restrictions, and discriminations associated with
menstruation or throughout the life cycle.
It is lifelong approach instead of five days
bleeding or reproductive age.
· Under the leadership of Ministry of Women,
Children and Social Welfare, we are marking 8 December as Second International
Dignified Menstruation day, and three days International Workshop on Dignified
Menstruation on 8-10 December thus intensively engaging in talk programs across
globe, hosting meetings, speaking over media, contacting speakers, trainings to
the volunteers etc.
· I have just finished the preparation meeting
for marking girls day and menopause day.
· Additionally, we also plan to lunch a book on dignified menstruation, I am working on it.
2. What
is the state of menstrual awareness like in Nepal?
·
Honestly and frankly, if you see the journey of
mine on menstrual activism, it is already more than three decades. But the journey
of dignified menstruation at the governmental level, it is just begin since last
December.
·
I clearly see the two sides as like coin.
1.
The country itself moving forward for dignified
menstruation. The series of activities have been implementing at local,
national and global level. Dignified Menstruation is a important elements
specifically to four ministries; Ministry of Women, Education, Health, and
water Supply.
2. In other hand, the most of the menstrurators are still suffering so much at personal and societal or professional level. They are restricted for touch, eat, mobility and participation during menstruation because they considered menstruation as an impure and dirty. Sadly, the most of stakeholders who are working around menstruation are focusing on hygiene. And the stakeholders who are working for women’s empowerment, yet to consider dignified menstruation is their priority for intervention.
3.
How does a lack of knowledge and limited access to
products/sanitation affect girls and women in Nepal?
·
The lack of knowledge about menstruation and the
deep level of silence is major challenge here in Nepal.
·
It leads to follow too many negative or harmful
believe and behaviors during menstruation and beyond
·
Therefore, majority of the people consider the
menstruation as an impure and dirty
·
As a result, regardless of caste, class,
education, religion, region etc. the taboos, stigmas, restrictions,
discriminations practice across the country with difference in names, forms, severity,
visibility or public vs. private.
·
They are following restrictions related with
Touch, Food and Mobility or Participation.
·
Menstrurators are suffering every day at
immediate and long term level.
·
In other words they affected from Kitchen to
parliament.
The physical health, emotional health, social health impacted grossly.
Their education, employment and income pattern also heavily influenced.
They trapped in early or child marriage, poor sexual and reproductive
health
They subject to various forms of sexual and gender based violence
starting from childhood at home.
They are deprived from participating in politics, peace building process and
humanitarian activities and so on.
4.
How do we change the narrative around menstruation?
·
The most important and urgent action is changing
the narratives around menstruation
·
We can change narratives in following six ways:
1.
Impurity to Purity,
2.
Hygiene to Dignity,
3.
5 days bleeding to Throughout the life, even after death
Once people can talk about their vagina or menstruation, they can vocal
on menopause .The component of menopause automatically an important element.
4.
Women’s issue to Everyone business
5.
Private problem to Political Concern
6.
Gender policy to dignified menstruation policy
5. Are people in Nepal talking about menopause?
· Yes, of course. But but with the either four
walls of home or clinic or hospital once women or couple of have something significant
that cannot be hide.
· It is not a public issue yet.
·
The
organizations who are working around SRHR and menstrual hygiene are yet to
realize the menopause is important and relevant issue.
· We, Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation and Radha Paudel Foundation strongly believed that the menopause is an important concern for dignified menstruation and planned few activities to mark the menopause day 18, October.
6.
Are you every afraid for your personal safety as a
result of your campaigning?
· Yes, in many ways.
· Yet many individuals and organization who are
working for women’s right they also not accepted me or dignified menstruation
is an important element.
· Just for two months duration, three programs
or six organizations were deleted my name as panel even after they confirmed
few weeks before
· I and my core team members are constantly
receiving the direct and indirect threats, torture due to demanding dignity of
menstrurators across the life span.
· We are receiving the comments, blaming, calls
to stop the campaign or modify the campaign.
· But we simply inspired from challenges.
· They are so much confined for five days
bleeding and secrete matter.
7.
Tell us about the International Workshop on
Dignified Menstruation, when is it, what is the programme, how can people sign
up?
· On the auspicious occasion of second
International Dignified Menstruation day, December 8, under the leadership of
Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen, government of Nepal, planned
three days’ workshop on December 8-10.
· It will unpack dignity across the life cycle
approach of menstruation
· The concept note and online registration
displayed in website called dignified menstruation.org
· In addition, anyone can reach out through
social media as well.
· This is virtual workshop so encourage to all
listeners to join, present their experiences and work.
Very simply, I would see,
·
Menstrurators would enjoy their dignity
throughout the life.
· Or the definition of peace, empowerment and SGBV would change and addressed.
9.
What one piece of advice would you like to give to
your younger-self?
I have message to both menstrurators and non menstrurators.
·
For Menstrurators: You deserved the dignity,
thus menstrual talk, dignity first
· For Non-Menstrurators: hold the accountability and acknowledge the essence of menstruation.
10.
Please tell us a quote that inspires you.
The birth of an individual is not choice at
all.
