General Assembly Resolution #647 “Action on Period Poverty” (Category: Social Justice; Strength: Mild) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.
The World Assembly (WA),
Noting the intent of the target resolution (“Action on Period Poverty”) to expand access to menstrual products, especially for low-income residents in WA states;
However, also noting that substantial healthcare and welfare benefits are already mandated via both General Assembly resolutions (such as GA97, GA161, and GA582), as well as domestic laws, and believing that the mandate stated in GA97 for well-funded “full health services coverage” largely covers the need for the target resolution in the first place;
Aghast that the resolution contains a number of potential issues that may render the resolution ineffective where it matters and create potential harm in undue circumstances, in the opinion of this assembly:
- The wording of section a.i is poor, as it remains ambiguous on when a patient would be “in genuine need” and how “genuine need” is to be assessed;
- The wording of sections a.ii, a.iv, and a.v are highly problematic in situations where someone that identifies with one particular gender but that may require menstrual products that are associated with another gender, depending on sapient species, is inadvertently forced to reveal personal information about themselves;
- The target’s bizarre requirement that the provisions of menstrual products be free but not access to the toilet(s) where such products are stocked, thus depriving the benefits for residents of some WA states and cities that charge for access to public toilets;
Hereby urges this esteemed organ to seriously consider if a replacement resolution is genuinely necessary in light of GA97 and other existing resolutions covering this topic;
Hereby repeals the target resolution, “Action on Period Poverty”.