Tampon tax, victory in the battle emblem of gender equality
Social inclusion festival, the first edition in Pomezia on 6-7 November 2021
31 October 2021
Disability and social inclusion, SDGs 2030. European Parliament resolution
7th November 2021
After three years of mobilization, the Tampon Tax, VAT on sanitary napkins, from January 2022 drops from 22 to 10%. The novelty affects the economy of women, forced every month to pay for an essential product as if it were a superfluous good. But above all it shows that gender injustices are ready to be remedied. The next step? Cut the Tampon Tax al 4%.
Tampon Tax, the symbol battle
Victory against the 'expensive VAT' on women's sanitary pads was shared on 5 November in the Senate by the protagonists of the company. Namely the young activists who have been fighting against the Tampon Tax and Coop Italia, which has joined them in the last year, leading them to victory.
At the meeting Elena Bonetti, Minister for Equal Opportunities, took part, bringing the requests on the government to the Tampon Tax, accepted - in part - in the 2022 maneuver.
'The road to full gender equality is still long, but we have all the tools to travel it together'said the minister.
The turbo of Coop
The mobilization on Tampon Tax was conceived 3 years ago in a Milanese basement by the girls of the Onde Rosa collective. A first megaphone materialized with the publication of the petition 'Stop Tampon tax, the cycle is not a luxury'still active on Change.org. Almost 670 signatures as we write.
To put the turbo Coop Italia dedicated itself to mobilization, where the female figure is central. In addition to the top management, starting with the managing director Maura Latini, 70% of the workers and 43% of the shop managers are women.
Close the Gap
Thanks to the commitment of Coop members and volunteers, over 79.000 signatures were collected in support of the petition in 260 points of sale located in 221 municipalities.
The mobilization on Tampon Tax it is also a piece of the campaign Close the Gap launched by Coop Italia last March to eliminate gender discrimination. A path that winds through internal projects, training courses and involving brand product suppliers.
Tampon Tax, still not enough
The cut of 12 points VAT on sanitary towels 'promised' by the government must be approved in Parliament. But the measure could still improve if the parliamentarians heed the call for economic justice made by more than half a million citizens.
The mobilization of women in fact point to the recognition of sanitary towels as basic necessities. And as such, subject to 4% VAT.
