Eskiter-Schoğlu’s activism was ignited by a devastating earthquake in her hometown of Van, eastern Türkiye, in 2011. While hastily packing aid boxes, a room full of women suddenly realized they had forgotten to include menstrual products. This moment laid bare how easily periods are overlooked, even by those who menstruate.

“The absurdity of the invisibility of that experience, even in a room full of women and adolescent girls, pushed me to think more about period poverty, menstruation stigma, and why it is seen as a taboo in our culture.” 

Women and girls suffer the most during humanitarian emergencies. In crisis zones, menstrual products often become impossible to find or afford, forcing many women and girls to resort to unsafe alternatives, like rags, leaves, and newspapers. These makeshift solutions are uncomfortable and can lead to serious health risks, such as urinary tract and yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. The lack of clean water, privacy, and sanitation facilities only makes matters worse, making periods a monthly ordeal for millions around the world. This neglect strips women and girls of their dignity and endangers their health, a situation that no one should have to endure. 

As the co-founder of a youth-led feminist NGO, the biggest hurdle for Eskiter-Schoğlu and her team has been the stigma around women’s cycles. Menstruation is still seen as shameful and immoral in some communities.

“It’s not easy to talk about cyclical bodies, sexual and reproductive health, let alone menstruation, in Türkiye.” 

The name of her organization, We Need To Talk, tackles this issue head-on by opening the space for honest conversations. Eskiter-Schoğlu's team is working to dismantle the shame and silence surrounding periods to create safe and open environments where menstruation is treated as a natural and healthy process. In a society where just saying the word “menstruation” or “period” can be controversial, her work is both radical and essential.

“For every single menstruator who has a cyclical body, it (menstruation justice) is a human rights issue.” 

In Türkiye, comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is not part of the school curriculum. This leads many children to experience their first period without accurate information or support. 

Eskiter-Schoğlu believes schools should be equipped to teach all children – not just girls – about sexual and reproductive health. For menstruators, this builds confidence and dignity. For non-menstruators, especially boys, it fosters empathy and mutual respect. For everyone, it removes the stigma and normalizes menstruation as a natural and healthy process.

“Period poverty is not only about inaccessibility of products; it’s also about inaccessibility of knowledge about menstruation.” 

However, just 39 per cent of schools worldwide provide menstrual health education, leaving millions of young people without the information they need. A recent study in the United States found that more than 75 per cent of students say they  learn more about the biology of frogs than the female body, and 90 per cent think schools should normalize menstruation.  

“Because they (men and boys) weren’t taught about the menstrual experiences… their ignorance and their lack of support is one of the main causes of period poverty and menstruation stigma today.”

After years of grassroots advocacy, Eskiter-Schoğlu and other activists in Türkiye achieved a breakthrough: a reduction in the value-added tax on menstrual products. 

“In a very tough political environment, we were able to open up space and convince the government to recognize the fact that menstrual products are basic needs.” 

While they weren’t able to eliminate the tax entirely, the policy shift marked a crucial acknowledgement that menstrual hygiene products are essential items for women and girls. The tax was first lowered to 8 per cent before rising again to 10 per cent due to the cost-of-living crisis. Still, Eskiter-Schoğlu and her team see it as a hard-won step forward. 

“Governments cannot tax these products like luxury goods.” 

This policy win proves what sustained grassroots pressure can achieve, even in challenging political contexts where progress can be slow and contested.

Solidarity is what sustains Eskiter-Schoğlu’s activism, she says, quoting a Turkish feminist chant: “Solidarity keeps us strong; solidarity keeps us alive.”  Whether it’s in a protest, a UN conference room, or a moment of mourning, Eskiter-Schoğlu draws strength from the global feminist movement.

She also carries the wisdom of her grandmother, a child bride who raised and educated seven children. 

“She used to say, people throw stones at the tree that gives the most fruit. That means our movement is reaping fruits. It's creating resources and opportunities for women and girls.” 

For Eskiter-Schoğlu, the backlash against menstrual justice is not a sign of failure but proof that the work is powerful, visible, and necessary. 

“The fact that there's backlash doesn't take away from the value of our movement or its potential. Embrace the fruitfulness of the movement and trust the solidarity of fellow feminists.”