In the Pacific, people who menstruate often experience fear and shame, as well as practical challenges, in managing their periods effectively throughout their whole life. Addressing menstruation is essential to achieving gender equality and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, education, water sanitation and hygiene and other outcomes in the Pacific. However, despite being a common experience, menstrual health remains largely neglected by policymakers, researchers and practitioners across the region.

The Pacific Menstrual Health Network was founded in 2019 by seven local Pacific Island organisations: Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality (Fiji); Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (Fiji); QueensPads (Papua New Guinea); Mana Care (Samoa); Kaleko Steifree (Solomon Islands); Mama’s Laef (Vanuatu); and the Pacific Disability Forum (Regional), with support from WaterAid.

The Pacific Menstrual Health Network’s vision is that Pacific women, girls and all other people who experience a menstrual cycle realise their menstrual health rights throughout their life course. Its members drive a menstrual health rights movement across the region who collaborate, advocate and amplify local voices to create positive menstrual health and rights change.

The Pacific Period Stories campaign captures the art of Pacifika oral story telling. The campaign shares powerful menstrual health stories from six diverse countries.We hear six inspiring story tellers celebrate culture, break the taboo and normalise the conversation about menstruation. We get behind the scenes, learning how the women and men behind the lens were also inspired. Through this collaboration WaterAid has supported Pacific partners to further amplify women’s voices and call for greater menstrual health rights and awareness.