Statues across Paris highlight hidden struggles of period poverty

On the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, the association Règles Élémentaires and the communications agency Serviceplan Paris are unveiling the operation Le Poids des Règles, to raise awareness of a staggering figure from the association's new 2025 study:

42% of women in Europe have already been in a situation of menstrual insecurity, for financial reasons, over the past 12 months.

In a context of growing economic fragility, periods weigh too heavily on the budget of many women. The idea, as simple as it is striking, of the Serviceplan Paris agency? To make the tampon the symbol of this weight of periods .

A string was attached to dozens of statues of women in public spaces to create a parallel between the visible weight of the statues and the invisible and unfair weight of period protection; supported by a striking loop: "The heaviest is not the statue, but the string."

Maud Leblon, Executive Director, Executive Director of Règles Elementaires : "As long as period poverty is considered a secondary issue, it will continue to weigh on millions of women. With this operation, we want to force the focus and accelerate a meaningful political response,"

A sculpture in front of the European Parliament to change the rules

After Paris, the campaign crossed borders to Brussels, where the rules can truly change. A stamp sculpture, embodying the financial burden of the rules, was installed in front of the European Parliament to call for concrete measures, driven by the fieldwork of the associations, the data produced this year, and the debate sparked by the campaign. This campaign has already received the support of several MEPs, and the associations hope that it will continue to mobilize in all Member States and among all European decision-makers.

Distribution to parliamentarians' mailboxes

Stamp sculptures, accompanied by an educational map, were distributed in the letterboxes of parliamentarians to alert decision-makers to the urgency of taking action and making this issue a European issue.

Justine Okolodkoff, Deputy Director General, Règles Élémentaires: “By bringing this work to the doors of the European Parliament, we wanted to materialize the invisible. To make period poverty no longer a silent reality, but a heard emergency.”

A new study for a new European movement: #MenstrualMattersEU

This operation supports the publication of an exclusive survey carried out with Opinionway for Règles Élémentaires , which reveals the figures on menstrual insecurity and the impact of the period taboo in the European Union . It also launches a campaign mobilizing 18 other European associations united behind #MenstrualMattersEU , created for the occasion.

Period poverty, while the subject of initial public policies in some EU countries such as France and Spain, continues to affect at least 50 million people in Europe and remains a major public health and equality issue in the European area.

Powerful sculptures, produced by the French brand Little Anana

The imposing sculpture, along with its 100 miniature replicas, was designed and manufactured by Little Anana , a French furniture brand based in the Basque Country.

At the intersection of design and craftsmanship, Little Anana designs and locally manufactures mass-produced and custom-made pieces. With this collaboration, the brand is leveraging its artisanal expertise to convey a powerful and urgent political message.

www.regleselementaires.com

www.house-of-communication.com

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