ETH provides free tampons to female students
The aim of the pilot project: normalization and de-tabooing of the topic of menstruation.
Among other things, 22 vending machines have been installed in women’s and gender-neutral restrooms on the Hönggerberg campus and in the center, which have been dispensing tampons and pads since Tuesday.20min/Celia Nogler
The vending machines each contain one prepackaged sanitary pad or four prepackaged tampons.20min/Celia Nogler
The city of Zurich has also launched a pilot project. On a trial basis, menstrual products are being provided free of charge to the city’s high school students. 20min/Celia Nogler
What it is about
- ETH Zurich has launched a pilot project.
- The university is offering free pads and tampons at various locations on campus.
“In order to ensure the best possible work and study environment for dependents, ETH Zurich has launched a pilot project to facilitate access to menstrual products on campus,” ETH Zurich announced on Twitter on Tuesday. The goal of the pilot project: normalize and de-taboo the topic of menstruation.
At the Hönggerberg and Zentrum campuses, as well as at the Basel site and the Octavo building in Oerlikon, 22 vending machines have been installed in women’s and gender-neutral restrooms, which have been dispensing tampons and pads since Tuesday. The vending machines each contain one packaged pad or four packaged tampons.
The University of Geneva also recently installed distribution vending machines with menstrual items on university campuses. According to a news release, the vending machines were placed at 16 different locations. The project cost about 37,000 francs. The distribution is limited to one year.
City of Zurich tests free pads and tampons at schools
The city of Zurich has also launched a pilot project. On a trial basis, menstrual products are being provided free of charge to the city’s senior high school students. “The hygiene items are available in boxes in the anterooms of the school toilets so that female students have uncomplicated access to them when needed,” the school and sports department wrote in an email to parents. According to spokesman Marc Caprez, the pilot project will be carried out at one or two secondary schools per school district and will last until the end of the year. A first interim evaluation of demand and acceptance is planned for October.