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Video script:
” This is the situation in Lidl, one of Croatia’s popular market chains.
On discount, I found Libresse pads (amount 20) for 2.64 euros; one pad of the usually very cheap Siempre costs 0,05 euros; and one O.B. tampon for 0,11 euros.
In Croatia, almost 12% of women cannot afford to change tampons or pads as much as they would need to, according to a 2021 report by Croatian NGO “Pariter” on period poverty.
“Pariter” also found that 10% of women in Croatia cannot afford to buy painkillers during their periods. 36.4% are buying cheaper products because they cannot buy high-quality ones. 3% cannot afford menstrual products at all, and instead, they use toilet paper, socks and other makeshift pads.
In 2021, Croatian Parliament discussed the demand to decrease the tax imposed on menstrual hygiene products, but it was later dismissed. In 2022, the Members of Parliament decided to dedicate 1 million euros in 2023 to secure free pads in schools and shelters for victims of domestic violence. Although a step forward, it definitely isn’t enough and does not respond to all women’s needs in Croatia.
With the inflation and declining value of the Croatian national currency kuna to the euro, which led to a huge increase in the prices of many basic products, the situation described in Pariter’s 2021 report remains the same… or is probably even worse. “
