28/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE:
Gender Affairs Unit Recognises World Menstrual Health Day and Highlights Positive Workplace Action at Four Seasons Resorts and Residences Anguilla
The Gender Affairs Unit (GAU) joins the global community in recognising World Menstrual Health Day on 28th May, reaffirming the importance of creating environments where menstrual health is understood, supported, and addressed as a matter of health, dignity, wellbeing, and inclusion.
World Menstrual Health Day serves as an opportunity to increase awareness surrounding menstrual health and hygiene, challenge stigma and misconceptions, and advocate for supportive systems that enable women and girls to participate fully in all aspects of life. Menstruation is a natural biological process experienced by millions of women and girls worldwide, yet many continue to face barriers that can impact their health, comfort, confidence, and participation in educational, social, and workplace environments.
Supportive workplace environments play an important role in addressing menstrual health needs. This includes access to clean and private facilities, appropriate sanitary resources, supportive workplace policies, and access to essential resources such as water. Access to water in the workplace remains particularly important, as it supports personal hygiene, comfort, and overall wellbeing and is a simple but critical component in creating period-friendly environments.
As part of this year's observance, the Gender Affairs Unit wishes to commend the People and Culture Department of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla for taking meaningful steps toward fostering a more supportive and period-friendly workplace environment. The property recently curated a dedicated space within its female staff locker room designed to provide comfort and support for employees during menstruation. Such initiatives recognise that menstrual health is not solely a personal matter but one that intersects with workplace wellbeing, employee support, and broader inclusion efforts.
Gender Development Coordinator Kemoloy Murphy noted:
"Creating supportive environments for menstrual health is a practical step toward ensuring dignity, wellbeing, and inclusion within our communities and workplaces. Small but intentional actions can make a meaningful difference in normalising conversations around menstruation and ensuring women and girls feel supported. Access to resources such as water, clean facilities, and supportive spaces should be recognised as important considerations within workplace environments. We commend the People and Culture team at Four Seasons Resort Anguilla for taking this important step and demonstrating leadership in this area."
“Supporting menstrual health is fundamental to building a workplace culture where people feel respected, valued, and empowered to perform at their best,” noted Calla Gumbs, Regional Director People and Culture, Four Seasons Resorts (Americas). “By recognizing menstrual health as an integral part of overall employee wellbeing, organizations are not only meeting practical needs but also contributing to a more inclusive, progressive, and people-centered future of work” she added.
The Unit views this initiative as a positive step in the right direction and an example of how both private and public entities can begin to consider practical approaches to supporting menstrual health within the workplace.
The Gender Affairs Unit further notes that promoting equitable and inclusive environments aligns with the broader objectives being advanced through Anguilla's proposed National Gender Policy and Action Plan, which seeks to strengthen systems and create environments that enable all individuals to participate fully and equally in society. Considerations around health, wellbeing, workplace inclusion, and addressing barriers that disproportionately affect women and girls form part of broader efforts to promote equality and improve quality of life.
As we observe World Menstrual Health Day, the Gender Affairs Unit encourages employers, institutions, and communities across Anguilla to continue exploring practical ways to create supportive and inclusive environments; whether through improved facilities, access to water and essential products, awareness initiatives, or workplace practices that recognise and respond to the needs of employees.
Together, through continued awareness and action, we can help break stigma and ensure that menstruation is approached with dignity, understanding, and support.
For more information on the work of the Gender Affairs Unit, please contact the Gender Development Coordinator Ms. Kemoloy Murphy via email at [email protected] or via telephone at 497-3930 ext. 3505.
