Kosovo Women's Network Wants to Resign Tax on Menstrual Products

According to RGK, in Kosovo indeed, menstrual products are taxed for 18% of their value, as do luxury products.

We remember there is another tax on the value added 8% for essential products, such as pharmaceuticals. However, menstrual products are not even taxed, which would reduce their price. They are continuing to be taxed as if they were luxury products rather than essential, just as they are for women and girls and their well - being and their right to affordable health care. Through this campaign, RGK will inform citizens and institutions of the importance of implementing gender policies in imposing taxes on menstrual products, as well as the particular importance this takes in the Kosovo case -- given that only 15.9% of women in Kosovo are employed [source: Kosovo Statistics Agency, first quarter, 2021. The campaign, among other things, brings to public debate the fact that management of menstrual hygiene is a matter of basic human rights, and with that in mind, menstrual products cannot continue to be taxed as if they were luxury products. To attend this, RGK on May 28th-day World Menstrual Hygiene Day will be sent to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers the policy document, titled “The Gender Response Tax: The removal of taxes for menstrual products”. The document, which was originally launched by the RGK member organisation EcoCos Siomen (EKË), and clearly presents the reasons why the Government of Kosovo should reduce or completely abolish taxes on menstrual products, and thus affect the growth of women's welfare and implement the Djind responsible budget, as it has vowed. The document also contains recommendations on how to do such a thing”, said the communiqué.

Among RGK's key recommendations is for the Government of Kosovo to change the law on increased value tax, and with it changes administrative instructions for its implementation, so that menstrual products can be released from customs payments and taxation.

“According to RGK gender analysis, this will go to the benefit of low-income families as well as contribute to the achievement of equality in collecting state incomes, removing this discrimination tax for women. Moreover, this would contribute to the improvement of women's access to health care, personal hygiene management, education, and employment. If total tax removal is not possible, then this tax should be issued by 8% anyway, as this way their price would be lowered without much being noticed at collecting state income. In addition to this important document that we will soon publish on our website, the newcomerteek.org, the campaign will also be carried out on social networks, where through illustrations we will present our recommendations in all three languages; Albanian, English and Serbian. This campaign is supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Swedish Agency for International Co-operation and Development (Sida)”, said the communique.