The municipality confirmed it. Ten distributors will be deployed within Savoie Mont Blanc University, the local mission and the youth information office “before the end of February”.

They will meet the needs of “3,500 young women for 4 months,” says Guillaume Tatu, deputy mayor in charge of youth within the new green majority. The investment represents 8,000 euros for the community.

The city of Annecy particularly targets “students, young workers, unemployed young people, young people who have dropped out of school”, explains Guillaume Tatu, estimating that “menstrual insecurity has been increased due to the health crisis”.

A first in France

“This is the first time that a city has funded 100% periodic protection”, assures Guillaume Tatu, specifying that the distributors themselves are made available free of charge by a company.

“It is dramatic to hear in Annecy that young women cannot afford tampons or towels”, reacts the Youth Assistant, who sees “a social injustice” and considers these protections as “products first need”.

“Test phase”

Guillaume Tatu specifies that this is a “test phase” which could be extended at a later stage. “We will take stock of the operation and see how we can deploy it with new players in colleges, in high schools and, why not, in other public places.”

According to a survey unveiled Monday by the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE), 33% of the students questioned said they needed help to obtain periodic protection.

The Ile-de-France Regional Council voted on February 4 for a support fund for equipping free distributors of periodic protection in high schools, universities and student housing in the region, after a first experiment in around thirty high schools since end of 2020.