The Tax Free Pad Cameroon campaign, spearheaded by AAGYW Cameroon, crossed the milestone of 10,000 petition signatures on 20 July 2024. The campaign calls on the Government of Cameroon to remove value-added tax on menstrual hygiene products, making pads and tampons accessible to girls in low-income households.
Why Menstrual Health Equity Matters
Research conducted through AAGYW’s SheTracks mapping initiative found that 1 in 3 adolescent girls in surveyed North West communities had missed school at least once in the previous month due to lack of access to menstrual products. Period poverty remains a significant barrier to girls’ education in Cameroon.
Parliamentary Engagement
The campaign team secured meetings with two parliamentary committees in Yaounde in June 2024. Both committees acknowledged the issue for the first time in formal proceedings – a significant step forward. AAGYW will present a formal policy brief to the Ministry of Finance before the end of the fiscal year.
