This archive report was first published on 13 December 2019.
On December 10, 2019, Rwanda's Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion announced the exemption of sanitary pads from Value Added Tax (VAT), a move aimed at increasing their affordability.
The decision comes after a fierce lobbying by feminist groups and NGOs in Rwanda, who have been urging the government to bring down the cost of sanitary pads.
According to reports, a pack of ten sanitary pads previously retailed at around Rwf1,000 (Sh109), with an 18% VAT. With the exemption, the cost will be reduced by at least 18%, translating to Rwf820 (Sh89.5) - a saving of Sh19.5 per pack.
"This is a step in the right direction but not the ultimate solution," said Annette Mukiga, a feminist activist in Rwanda. "It is a shame that girls have to drop out of school just because of a biological process, so it is a good step what government is trying to do."
Rwanda joins other East African countries in dropping the tax on sanitary ware, which has been a subject of heated debates and calls for its abolition.
