The Scottish Parliament passed a bill that will make pads and tampons free across the board, making Scotland the first country on the globe to end "period poverty." This is a huge victory for the civic groups that supported the bill, considering that nearly 10 percent of Britain's girls have been unable to afford period products, and 19 percent have resorted to using substitutes. The provision of free products is also aimed at combating the culture of silence and stigma surrounding menstruation, which can pose physical, sexual, and mental health risks for young women.