Public schools in Nyborg, Denmark, will soon offer free menstrual products to students, following a proposal from the city’s youth council. The initiative, backed by the city council, earmarks 100,000 kroner over four years to support menstrual equity in education.
Free Menstrual Products Coming to Nyborg Schools
Starting next year, students in public schools across Nyborg Municipality will have access to free menstrual products such as pads and tampons. This new initiative will equip the girls’ restrooms in the city’s four primary schools and one special education school with dispensers offering these essential products.
The change comes after the Nyborg Youth Council was comprised of two student representatives from each school in the municipality, advocated for easier and stigma-free access to menstrual hygiene items. Their proposal has now been adopted by the Nyborg City Council as part of the municipal budget for the upcoming year.
A Push by the Youth Council
The idea to provide free menstrual products on school premises was introduced by the Youth Council, a body formed to give young people a voice in local political decisions. For months, its members campaigned to remove roadblocks many students face when dealing with menstruation at school.
The council emphasized that unexpected periods at school can be a stressful experience, particularly for young girls who may not have supplies on hand. The lack of available hygiene products can lead to missed class time and unnecessary embarrassment. With their proposal now approved, the students accomplished a major goal: Equality and dignity in everyday school life.
Budget and Implementation
The approved municipal budget allocates a total of 100,000 Danish kroner (about $14,300) over the next four years for the installation of dispensers in school restrooms. Each school will soon be equipped with a small unit that provides free menstrual products, ensuring students can access them discreetly and easily whenever necessary.
According to Mayor Kenneth Muhs, the move aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding menstruation and foster a healthier dialogue around the topic in schools. He emphasized that the city is committed to listening to youth voices and implementing policies that reflect their lived experiences.
Early Action and Local Initiatives
Some schools in Nyborg had already taken action before the municipal funding was approved. At 4kløverskolen, a local school in the town of Ørbæk, students successfully lobbied for free menstrual product dispensers through their own student council. A dispenser labeled with the phrase “No blood should hold us back” was installed, marking a grassroots success that served as inspiration for the broader initiative.
Today, two of Nyborg’s educational institutions already have free products available, and the remaining three are expected to implement them by early next year.
Addressing Stigma and Inequality
A 2022 study conducted by the research firm Epinion revealed that less than 10% of Danish schools offer free pads or tampons. Furthermore, over 50% of girls aged 12 to 14 said they felt “embarrassed” or “very embarrassed” changing menstrual products during the school day.
These figures highlight how deeply the topic is still stigmatized, and how limited access to basic hygiene items can reinforce inequality, especially in educational contexts. Nyborg’s policy addresses both issues, offering physical support through free products and symbolically reinforcing that menstruation is a normal part of life, not something to be hidden or ashamed of.
Looking Ahead
Although the Youth Council had also hoped to extend the initiative to local continuation schools (efterskoler) and upper secondary institutions, this first phase focuses on municipal primary education. The council and city leaders view this as a foundational step, with potential for future expansion depending on the initiative’s success.
Other Danish municipalities are beginning to follow suit. For example, since late last year, Albertslund Municipality near Copenhagen has allocated 50,000 kroner annually to provide free pads in its schools as a permanent feature of its school budget.
Nyborg’s decision aligns with a growing movement across Europe to improve menstrual equity. Countries such as Scotland have implemented national-level policies mandating free access to menstrual products in public institutions, and similar discussions are gaining ground in several EU nations.
As conversations about menstrual health become more prevalent, Nyborg serves as a local model for change, demonstrating how youth-led initiatives can turn into actionable policy, enhancing dignity and well-being for students inside the classroom.
