Blog Layout
Menstrual hygiene and Homelessness
Oct 13, 2021
Many people who have not experienced menstruation find it uncomfortable. From the imagination of pools of gory blood to the reality of using and used menstrual pads, tampons, and other sanitary items. I argue that the only truly disgusting thing about menstruation is the fact that women across the world who are homeless are unable to access basic essential items during their cycle.
Women experiencing homelessness face a unique set of issues because of their gender. The homeless period website reports that though shelters are given an allowance every year to buy necessities like condoms, there is still not an allowance given for sanitary products. If shelters are unable to provide sanitary products, then women experiencing homelessness are simply not able to afford spending £13 to per month on period products which is the UK average amount spent on sanitary items.
So how do women experiencing homelessness cope with their periods? Many women are forced to go to public bathrooms and use tissues to create make-shift protection. Other women use old cloth, rags, towels, and even plastic bags. Clearly many of these methods are unsanitary and can lead to yeast and urinary tract infections. On top of the methods themselves being unsanitary, the circumstance of homelessness itself exasperates this issue. By not having access to a consistent and secure bathroom’s, many homeless women are forced to keep their pads and tampons on for longer time periods. Allegra Parillo and Edward Fellar (2017) reported that even when women do have access to showers at shelters, their access is very limited, once again elongating the time in which one should clean themselves which then maximises the risk of infection.
Though the physical effects of experiencing periods whilst homeless are largely not though about, the mental effects of experiencing periods whilst homeless are even more greatly hidden. When many women are on their periods they experience low moods, mood swings and in the worse-case depression. Women experiencing homelessness experience these feelings at a higher level because of their inability to choose to be clean and because they lack the privilege to rest in a warm bed, not worry about their next meal, and relieve themselves from pain because they cannot afford painkillers or hot water bottles.
Despite the harsh and painful facts of this often-invisible issue, there is a silver lining in that fighters for justice across the UK have strived to change this issue and you can help too. The Homeless Period is a movement started by three colleagues Oli, Josie, and Sara. The group collects sanitary product donations and sends them to women who need them most. Period Poverty is another organisation that does not only help homeless women but women of all circumstances who for some reason are unable to access sanitary products. Other than these niche organisations you can always donate products at food banks and local charities, or simply make a conversation in-person with someone in need and make a small purchase that is a humongous help.
Joint Advocacy Letter: Inclusion of Restorative Justice in the Victims & Prisoners Bill
Cllr Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, LBS Cc Althea Loderick, CEO of Southwark Council Neil Coyle, MP Caroline Thwaites, Assistant Director for Community Safety & Partnerships, LBS Cllr, Nick Johnson, Surrey Docs Ward Cllr Cryan Stephanie, Rotherhithe Ward Cllr Ennin: 4th Feb 2024 Open letter: Invitation to a restorative justice dialogue Thank you for meeting the RJ4All International Institute on 25th January to discuss our programme of building in Southwark the world’s first restorative justice postcode. This open letter aims to provide you with some feedback on our meeting, which I found extremely discouraging and to some extent disrespectful of the hard work that RJ4All and our local community is putting in addressing the root causes that lead to community tensions and poverty in the borough. I have learned when I see conflict to expose it and try to address it by looking at the harm caused, and not the individuals involved. Rest assured that the intention of this letter is neither accusatory nor defensive, and we have our 10-year legacy to evidence our collaborative approach and constructive relationships with local, regional and national governments. We acknowledge the LA’s hard work and investment to address persistent inequalities and make the borough a safe place for all. It is within this spirit that I write, and offer a restorative justice way forward. Read the full letter
London, Jan 20, 2024: Today, an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill was tabled to introduce a “victims’ right to restorative justice". Working closely with the office of Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, RJ4All submitted evidence for legislative changes. This is the first of many others that are expected to be published on Monday.
The Victims Bill, the Rwanda Bill and the post office miscarriages of justice: What do they have in common?
The biggest gathering of advocates of restorative justice, transformative justice, and innovative legal practices is just around the corner! Practitioners, researchers, academics and a multitude of esteemed colleagues will live an unforgettable experience at the upcoming Justice Innovation Summit, set against the backdrop of the tropical paradise of Honolulu, Hawaii, from February 16 to 19, 2024. This groundbreaking event promises to be the biggest celebration of restorative justice worldwide and our Founder and Director, Dr. Theo Gavrielides could not miss such an important call! Exploring the Intersections The summit is a convergence of Restorative Justice, Transformative Justice, Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Transitional Justice, Victimology, and Indigenous Peacemaking. By delving into these diverse fields, the conference aims to answer crucial questions about how these practices intersect and contribute to improved access to justice for individuals and communities around the globe. Addressing Key Questions Interconnectedness: How do these justice approaches intersect, and how can they collectively enhance access to justice? Effective Applications: What are the most effective applications of these strategies in schools, corrections, child and family services, domestic violence, violence against women, and building peaceful communities? Collaboration: How can these justice innovations collaboratively work at both institutional and systemic levels to create lasting change? Tentative Schedule of Events Thursday, February 15th, 2024: Restorative Justice in Hawaii Legislative Briefing @ The Hawaii State Capitol (free & open to the public) Friday, February 16th, 2024, 9 am-3 pm: Pre-Conference Training Workshops (additional registration fee) Protecting the Environment with Restorative and other Justice Innovations Huikahi Reentry Planning Circles for Incarcerated People & their Loved Ones School K-12 RJ Practices and Experiences How to Build a Successful Restorative/Social Justice Organization Indigenous People’s Justice Practices Family Group Conferencing for Children and Families Restorative Justice for Addressing Domestic Violence & Violence Against Women Friday, February 16th, 2024: 4 pm: Opening Summit Ceremony , meet & greet with pupu and beverages Saturday, February 17th, 2024: 8 am: Doors Open – Registration packet pickup and continental breakfast 9 am: Welcome & Summit Orientation 10 am: Dorothy Roberts Keynote on Justice Innovations 1 pm: Innovative Impacts Shared from Sessions 3:15 pm: Roundtable Panel Discussion of Innovations 5:30-8 pm: Hawaiian Dinner (additional fee, pre-registration) Sunday, February 18th, 2024: 8 am: Doors Open – Continental Breakfast 9 am: Welcome Daily Orientation Keynote Presentation/Panel 1 pm: Innovative Impacts Shared from Sessions 3:15 pm: Roundtable Panel Discussion of Innovations 5:30-8 pm: HFRJ hosted Dinner for all Summit Participants Monday, February 19th, 2024 (President’s Day Holiday): 9 am: Doors Open – Continental Breakfast 10 am-2 pm: Hawaiian history of justice concepts and initiatives , Indigenous Panel Discussion, and creative cultural expressions. RJ4All's Involvement We are thrilled to announce that RJ4All is actively involved in organising this momentous summit, contributing to the global celebration of the transformative power of restorative justice. Stay tuned during the summit days as RJ4All will be publishing frequent updates on our progress and sharing interesting insights with our followers! Our Founder and Director, Dr. Theo Gavrielides, will be there as a keynote speaker, adding his expertise to this incredible gathering. Save the dates, mark your calendars, and get ready to be part of this historic event. For more information on the summit, visit Justice Innovations Summit . See you in Hawaii!
The RJ4All International Institute is delighted to share the news that we have been selected to receive funding from The Government’s Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund, delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK.
The ‘Community Champion Award’ was designed for the 10th anniversary of RJ4All to recognise the people who have made an outstanding contribution to our community at RJ4All. We want to celebrate the unsung heroes whose volunteering efforts have had a positive impact on their wider community.
London, December 12th – The Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All) proudly marks ten years of pioneering transformative change through the application of restorative justice principles.
Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All)
The RJ4All Rotherhithe Community Centre, 30 Plough Way London SE16 2LJ, UK
admin@rj4all.org | +44(0)7708758600 or 07795678904
Company CIC no : 08684719
| D-U-N-S: 219626583 | Ebay charity ID 125844 | CPD Membership no: 12186 | Paypal Giving Fund number: 1138175 | EC ID: E10008173 | EuropeAid ID: GB-2019-AKO-0605322022 |
European PIC:
941867673 | Ariba Commerce Cloud no: AN11181340179 | UKPRN: 10093192 | GLA Open Project System ID: 13678
