WCC News: Upcoming global webinar tackles period stigma in faith communities

As the international community works toward achieving gender equality by 2030, faith leaders are stepping forward to address one of the most overlooked barriers to women's empowerment: menstrual stigma. A joint webinar on 4 June from 15:00-16:30 CEST will explore how religious communities can lead transformative change in making menstruation a normal fact of life globally. 2 June 2025 "Faith communities have a unique moral authority to challenge harmful taboos that prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential," said Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, World Council of Churches (WCC) programme director for Life, Justice, and Peace. "When we address menstrual hygiene with dignity and respect, we affirm the fundamental worth of every woman and girl." The "Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld" webinar, hosted by the World Council of Churches, Norwegian Church Aid, and Partnerships for Religion and Development, will bring together diverse perspectives on this critical issue.  Today, millions of women and girls worldwide face discrimination and exclusion simply because they menstruate. Due to societal taboos and lack of access to sanitary products, many use unhygienic alternatives that create health risks. Educational opportunities are lost when girls miss school during their monthly cycles, perpetuating cycles of inequality. "This webinar marks our fourth year of sustained advocacy on an issue that churches and faith-based organisations have too often ignored," noted Dinesh Suna, WCC programme executive for Land, Water, and Food and coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical Water Network. "We're building momentum toward a world where menstruation becomes a normal part of life rather than a source of shame." Participants will explore good practices, funding challenges, and concrete actions for local implementation. A key objective of this webinar is to involve men, especially in faith communities, to take leadership in ending the period poverty and stigma.  More info here See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland