The Network of Women NOW’s End Period Poverty Campaign 2023 has officially launched and is a way to donate menstrual products to a local nonprofit, called Iris Domestic Violence Center. Post COVID restrictions are all to forgotten and considered a thing of the past. However, global lockdowns have greatly amplified the issues of period poverty and domestic violence with women and children being more vulnerable than ever.[1]  The struggle for women living in vulnerable populations has yet to feel the full magnitude of the post effects from the COVID restrictions.  An abusive partner may use a woman’s period to control and shame her.  Financial abuse combined with period poverty make a dangerous mix.[2] Likely leaving a woman with children in an impossible situation of abuse.  

Iris Domestic Violence Center’s mission empower survivors, prevent relationship violence, and promote justice for victims of domestic and dating violence, their children, and our communities.  For nearly 40 years, Iris Center has supported battered women and their children in the Greater Baton Rouge area and surrounding parishes. The Iris Center assists more than 100 women with children a month.  According to an Iris Center representative, “domestic violence victims are 7 times more likely to go back to their abuser, and this causes repeat admittance into the safehouse.”

Network of Women NOW has donated menstrual pads and tampons, hand sanitizers, and cleaning products to the Iris Domestic Violence Center. On March 1, 2023, Network of Women NOW donated these items to the Iris Domestic Violence Center during the “INSPIRE Networking Event.” This exclusive networking event celebrated women featured in the 225 Magazine & inRegister's “INSPIRE” section.

[1] Ding, A., (2020). “The Pandemic’s Effects on Women: Period Poverty and Domestic Violence.” The Borgen Project. Retrieved from https://borgenproject.org/pandemics-effects-on-women.

[2] Brooks, L., (2022). “How Domestic Abusers Might Weaponize Your Menstrual Cycle Against You.” Endometriosis.net. Retrieved from https://endometriosis.net/living/domestic-abuse.