President’s veto of menstrual health bill sparks outrage, as period poverty prevents millions of girls from attending school.

In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro vetoed a bill that would have provided free sanitary pads and tampons to disadvantaged women, including homeless people, prisoners, and teenage girls in state schools. The vetoed plan was expected to benefit 5.6 million women and was part of a broader initiative aimed at addressing menstrual health and period poverty in the country.

Period poverty is a significant issue in Brazil, where it is estimated that one in four girls miss school due to a lack of access to sanitary products. The veto has been described as “absurd and inhumane” by campaigners, who argue that it shows a lack of concern for the dignity and well-being of vulnerable women. Tabata Amaral, a member of the Brazilian Socialist Party and one of the bill’s co-authors, condemned the decision, accusing Bolsonaro of demonstrating “contempt for the dignity of vulnerable women.”