WRDA and Menstruation Matters launch research on Bathroom Access in Schools

On Wednesday 25th March at 5pm, WRDA and Menstruation Matters will join a panel of young women to discuss the key findings and recommendations of a report on bathroom access in schools in Northern Ireland.

Date    Wednesday 25th March

Time     5pm - 7pm, refreshments served from 5pm

Venue   The Seamus Heaney Centre, 38 University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NJ

The findings, based on 221 responses from young people, their parents and some medical practitioners, show some concerning trends. These include:

• Only 9% of respondents said that their school does not restrict bathroom access in some way

• 63.8% said that access was limited to break or lunch times, with some operating medical passes

• Of those schools where bathroom access is at the discretion of a teacher, inconsistencies are reported

• 46.1% of respondents have reported period leaks or accidents as a result of this policy

• Students report avoiding school when they have their periods, or experiencing anxiety as a result of the policy

• Some students report missing breaks because they have to queue for the bathroom

• Students and their families are rarely consulted when bathroom access is restricted

We have worked from these findings to try to find a series of recommendations that respect the rights of children to bathroom facilities, while at the same time appreciating schools’ concerns, and we believe that the recommendations are practical and sensible, including a survey of all schools by the Education Authority to ensure we have accurate data on how widespread the issue is.

The event will include a presentation of the findings and recommendations and a panel discussion chaired by Menstruation Matters and featuring young women from the Secondary Schools Student Union NI, Menstruation Matters, and a Masters Student specialising in children’s rights.

Registrations are still open at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScn5Oj0l69BmTWuSqeKH2Mon83io2tLpYdYNUAt1C6-enlJ-w/viewform and refreshments will be served from 5pm.