1. Department of Basic Education
Multi Party Women’s Caucus
23 November 2016
Briefing on plans to implement the provision of free sanitary products

2. Introduction
The President declared in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2011 that the Government should make available sanitary dignity packs to deserving young girls and women.
Various initiatives were undertaken by Government Departments, including DBE
However, DBE, never took a strategic intervention about the programme
It was undertaken as a volunteer programme for individual employees.

3. Context
Department of Women is coordinating a government committee and requested departments to share how they responded to the President’s call.
Glaring weaknesses in terms of coordination and guidance on the programme among departments could be observed.
Government indaba has been proposed to strategize accordingly in relation to the programme

4. Context
No evidence to support the belief that girls miss school due to unavailability of sanitary towels
Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 2011, Africa Check does not support this belief
Currently, DBE cannot commit based on the financial implications the programme may carry
Further research could provide answers

5. Thanks