The Minister for Equality and Feminisms, Tània Verge Mestre, took part in several events in New York on Tuesday, representing Catalonia at the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68).

Verge described the progress made in equality matters in Catalonia since the creation of the Ministry of Equality and Feminisms in 2021, which has provided a boost to these policies across all areas of government and society.

She explained that the resources allocated to these efforts have tripled and that the issue has become one of the government’s top priorities, with a dedicated area of action for a feminist transformation from a human rights perspective. The minister also emphasised the importance of intensifying collaborative work with local authorities, as is being done from the ministry, to ensure that policies and services are delivered as closely as possible to the people.

Verge also noted that resources transferred directly to local authorities have nearly tripled. This increase has directly contributed to enhancing and expanding services for the LGBTI+ community, first-response services, information and support services for women, and emergency responses to gender-based violence across the region.

Conference on sexual and reproductive rights in Catalonia at The City University of New York.

In the afternoon, Minister Verge delivered a lecture at The City University of New York (CUNY) on sexual and reproductive rights in Catalonia. She was invited by the prestigious professor of Political Science, George Andreopoulos, founder of the Center for International Human Rights at this public academic institution in the city.

With the title “Embedding a human rights approach in policymaking: The National Strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Catalonia” Verge discussed the feminist transformation area of action included in the government’s plan and how this strategy not only reinforces existing rights, such as access to abortion, long-term contraception, or specialised healthcare for transgender individuals, but also introduces new ones. These new rights include the right to menstrual and climacteric equity, which entails, among other measures, the free distribution of reusable menstrual products to all menstruating individuals residing in Catalonia. This initiative was launched last week to great success.

Catalonia has positioned itself as a global leader in the implementation of feminist public policies and the defence of human rights.

The policies of the Catalan Government regarding sexual and reproductive rights, as outlined in the National Strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, including the launch of the menstrual equity action “My period, my rules”, have gained significant international recognition.

Thanks to this project, the free distribution of reusable menstrual products to all menstruating individuals residing in Catalonia has begun. This initiative has been very well received by the public. In just the first three days, over 315,000 QR codes (the method for obtaining the products) were downloaded, and 200,000 women visited pharmacies to request their product.

The initiative, along with the Comprehensive Menstrual and Climacteric Equity Plan 2023-2025 of which it is a part, has garnered significant international interest. Many North American media outlets, such as The Washington Post, ABC News, Associated Press, and Fox News, among others, have reported on it. During her visit to New York, Verge will also conduct interviews with various media outlets.