This Australian State Will Experiment With Free Pads and Tampons in All Public Schools The goal: Make period poverty for students a thing of the past. Why Global Citizens Should Care Period poverty refers to a lack of access to access to products needed to safely manage menstruation due to poverty, stigma, misinformation or inadequate sanitation. Without safe products, students who menstruate can be forced to stay home and miss class or use items like socks or newspapers to manage their periods. Global Citizen campaigns on the United Nations' Global Goals, including goal 5 for gender equality. Join the movement and take action here.