12 Countries With Sweeping Women's Rights That Make Me Wonder Why The US Is Sooooo Far Behind
Recently, the French government announced that it will start covering the cost of IUDs, birth control pills, and several other contraceptive options for all women under 25 — as it (and every country) should.
The new measure was put in place after abortion rates increased and contraceptive use decreased in the country.
In an interview with AJ+, French gynecologist Véronica Cayol said that in addition to having free abortions as an option, women should also have access and use contraceptives so they don't find themselves in a situation where they are forced to terminate a pregnancy.
France is not the only country making progressive strides to protect women's rights. Here are 12 other countries that have been doing the most to treat 👏🏽 their 👏🏽 women 👏🏽 right 👏🏽.
1.Kenya became the first country to remove the tampon tax in 2004. It also started providing free pads in public schools in 2018.
2.The UK followed suit and has also eliminated the tax on all menstrual products.
3.Scotland became the first nation to pass a law that makes all period products accessible and free in public buildings.
4.The Philippines has passed the Safe Spaces Act, which criminally punishes those who catcall, stare intrusively, persistently tell sexual jokes, and perform other misogynistic acts.
5.Sweden has the Swedish Discrimination Act, which forces employers to actively promote equality between employees of every sex, identity, ethnicity, age, and religion. The act also works to prevent harassment in the workplace.
6.Belgium has enacted the Quota Act, which requires 50-50 representation of each sex on every election ballot. It also requires that the two top candidates in an election be of different genders.
7.Finland has a generous parental leave policy, granting new parents seven months of paid leave. They also allow mothers one month of pregnancy leave.
Nonbiological parents and fathers get the same rights. Single parents can get up to 14 months of paid leave.
8.New Zealand provides students with free menstrual products in all schools.
9.France has outlawed sexual harassment on the street, punishing behaviors like catcalling with a fine.
10.Zambia distributes free period products to women in rural and underserved communities.
11.Iceland has a workplace law that makes it mandatory for companies to prove that they pay their employees equal pay for equal work.
12.And finally, South Korea has menstrual leave, which allows working women to take one day off a month due to a painful period.
