Five ways activists are fighting for menstrual justice in Türkiye | UN Women – Headquarters

As the co-founder of a youth-led feminist NGO, the biggest hurdle for Eskiter-Schoğlu and her team has been the stigma around women’s cycles. Menstruation is still seen as shameful and immoral in some communities.

“It’s not easy to talk about cyclical bodies, sexual and reproductive health, let alone menstruation, in Türkiye.” 

The name of her organization, We Need To Talk, tackles this issue head-on by opening the space for honest conversations. Eskiter-Schoğlu’s team is working to dismantle the shame and silence surrounding periods to create safe and open environments where menstruation is treated as a natural and healthy process. In a society where just saying the word “menstruation” or “period” can be controversial, her work is both radical and essential.

“For every single menstruator who has a cyclical body, it (menstruation justice) is a human rights issue.”