Founder Message 2022

Dear Friends,

solidarity partners, lovers of Dignified Menstruation,
Greetings and accept our huge Congratulations!
Together, we just marked 4 th International year for Dignified Menstruation (DM) under the theme of
`Dignified Menstruation for Ending Child marriage’. As GSCDM has already mentioned in various forums and press meets, this year, DM day was celebrated in over 56 countries. The AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation)’s solidarity matters for acknowledging the role of menstrual discrimination for not only construction of power and patriarchy but also influence in building agency, making choices and decisions including child marriage, HIV or FGM.
On behalf of GSCDM, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all individuals,
organizations, and networks who celebrated the DM day. And also, special thanks to AHF for trusting us
and for sharing their activities through social media platforms. Most importantly, acknowledgement to
the Viluthu, Sri Lanka as well which is the Steering Committee member (second tenure) and founding
national Coordinator of GSCDM since the very beginning. Despite having economic and political crisis,
Viluthu hosted a day long International conference during the auspicious day of DM day. It was really an
outstanding commitment for the cause. And another remarkable achievement was the incorporation of
DM day into the calendar called Hamro Patro (English and Nepali) which is the most used online
calendar among the Nepalese community. Likewise, the song, `Say No’ was also launched which acts as
a very powerful tool to prevent any form of SGBV; including child marriage.
However, the organizations who are working for 16days activism or menstrual movements or human
rights or child marriage, are still hesitant to mark the DM day. Working towards such an ever missed
issue i.e. DM, with almost zero funding has been and still is very challenging; but we are moving forward
with whatever is possible from our ends. Other side of the DM which is the impact side, is very bright
and is shining with colors because the DM day is celebrated by many organizations, schools, individuals,
networks in Nepal and all around the globe whom GSCDM has never even contacted. GSCDM is
continuously envisioning new world where all menstruators with all diverse setting will live with dignity
throughout their lives.
Once again, thank you for your supports, solidarity and looking forward to working together for
advocacy, research, trainings, etc in coming days. Our DM journey has just begun and we still have a
long way to go with ample of challenges. Finally, I wish you all a very Happy New Year 2023.
Sincerely,
Radha Paudel
Founder, GSCDM, 30 December 2022, Secretariat office of GSCDM.