The right to health in the context of women's reproductive health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32978/sjp.2025.030Keywords:
menstruation, labour law, reproductive health, human rights, health rightsAbstract
Despite ongoing efforts toward gender equality, women still face significant disadvantages in the labour market, including lower wages, higher inactivity rates, limited access to leadership roles, and persistent occupational segregation. These inequalities are often reinforced by ineffective policies, traditional gender norms, and a lack of political will. While reproductive roles – especially child-rearing – are commonly cited, emerging challenges like menstrual poverty reveal deeper structural issues in need of attention. This paper argues for the inclusion of menstrual health in labour law, based on the right to health, noting that menstrual pain contributes to absenteeism and reduced productivity. Current gender-neutral laws fail to address these realities, however it could be derived from basic human rights as right to health. Introducing measures like menstrual leave and flexible work can promote not just the gender equality, but would support the reproductive health of women.
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