Réseau québécois d'action pour la santé des femmes (RQASF)

Published purpose

This 28-month project will support a feminist response to and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19 through systemic change. To achieve this, the Réseau québécois d’action pour la santé des femmes plans to heighten the visibility and reduce the menstrual vulnerability of young women in vulnerable circumstances. With this in mind, the Réseau québécois d’action pour la santé des femmes plans to meet with young women in precarious circumstances so that they can share their experiences, and to strengthen solidarity among community and institutional stakeholders by informing them about the systemic barriers inherent in practices and policies that keep menstrual precariousness out of sight, to engage government decision makers in helping women access products free of charge in their living environments, and to develop an information kit to raise media awareness about the importance of making menstrual products an essential need. By the end of the project, the organization will have helped eliminate systemic barriers by promoting inclusive policies and practices, by expanding networks and collaboration to accelerate systemic change and by changing persistent and harmful gender norms and attitudes in support of women’s equality. The Réseau québécois d’actions pour la santé des femmes will also organize a Canada-wide discussion panel to examine best practices with stakeholders from across the country who have worked on the issue of menstrual precariousness. This virtual event will compare needs and identify solutions to be implemented in Quebec.