VAT on feminine hygiene products: knickers sent to the government

Knickers were also sent “to the minister of health, Marisol Touraine; the Minister of State for Women’s Rights, Pascale Boistard; the Minister of State for the Budget, Christian Eckert, as well as a number of MPs” announced the “Knicker Gate” collective, the origin of this initiative, supported by the French feminist, lesbian, bi and trans association “FièrEs”. In mid-October, the National Assembly rejected the Socialist MPs request to apply a 5.5% VAT tax on feminine hygiene protection products, as asked for in particular by the Georgette Sand collective. Pascale Boistard, for her part, stated 16 October that she is going to “take [the subject] seriously” and “support” feminist associations’ demands. A letter accompanying the items sent by “Knicker Gate” also invited those who wish to protest against the Assembly’s decision to, in turn, address their knickers “stained red with paint to their MP”.