THE VOICES OF WHY MENSTRUATION MATTERS

FHI 360, Academy Hall, 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009

• Listen to Diana Sierra, Founder of BeGirl, tell her story and how she channeled her passion for MHM into extremely affordable, aspirational, and high performance products and economic opportunities for girls and women.
• Hear the voices of young women from around the world share their MHM stories.
• Watch creative and compelling presentations on why menstruation matters.
• View exciting exhibits that demonstrate solutions to the MHM challenge from global organizations.
• Meet, network, and learn from a diverse group interested in MHM!

Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28) was established with the vision of creating a world in which every woman and girl can understand her menstruation and manage it in a hygienic way – wherever she is – in privacy, safety and with dignity. Around the world, millions of women and girls face hardships in managing their menstruation that have negative impacts on their schooling, employment, health and more. The objective of the day is to help to break the silence and build awareness about the fundamental role of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for girls and women’s overall health and well-being

On May 28, a DC-based coalition of more than 20 organizations will host the second annual Menstrual Hygiene Day, an exciting learning and advocacy event on menstrual hygiene. Through dynamic speakers, voices of girls from around the world, and exhibitions of solutions, the event will provide participants the information they need to understand the important link between access to menstrual hygiene management and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, women’s and girls’ empowerment, and the realization of fundamental human rights. Participants will leave the event inspired to continue advocacy for menstrual hygiene in their own communities and spheres of influence.

PROGRAM

5:00-5:30 pm Networking, Creating a “Wall of Words”

5:30-5:45 pm Keynote – Diana Sierra, Founder of BeGirl,

a company dedicated to creating extremely affordable, aspirational, and high performance products that support women and girls’ autonomy and generate opportunities to radically improve their quality of life. Diana will speak to her experience and passion for MHM and give an overview of why this is an issue that needs to be addressed.

5:45-6:45 pm Voices and Solutions

A showcase of voices of young women and others from around the world who share their experiences, successes, and challenges with MHM, interspersed with creatively presented highlights of the relationship between MHM and education, health, economy, environment, and human rights and how partner organizations are addressing these linkages.

6:45-7:30 pm Networking, Exhibitions and Reception

A time for networking to discuss the challenges and solutions to menstrual hygiene management and to engage in advocacy for menstrual hygiene through #MenstruationMatters and more. Partners will exhibit and showcase the solutions presented.

The DC Coalition for Menstrual Hygiene Day includes:

FHI360, USAID/WASHplus, WASH Advocates, Save the Children, Plan International USA, Human Rights Watch, Advocates for Youth, Georgetown University Institute for Reproductive Health, Millennium Water Alliance, International Medical Corps, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, World Vision, WaterAid America, WASH United, Rebecca Fishman Consulting, Columbia University, Women & Girls Working Group, Public Private Partnership for Hand Washing, Girls Health Ed.