Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE
The Red Lines is one of five regional informal groups whose project “Red Lines – Breaking the lines of menstrual stigma and silence” has received financial support through the “Active Achievement Fund 2025”, a sub-granting activity of the “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” project funded by the European Union. This group is composed of five young people from North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.
The “Active Achievement Fund” aims to empower youth in the Western Balkans to participate in a structured dialogue on public policies relevant to youth, to advocate for the adoption of European values and strengthening of democratic and responsible institutions, and to promote regional cooperation and political, economic and social benefits of the EU integration for the Western Balkans societies. Support is provided through the direct payments by RYDE implementing partner organizations – Kosovar Stability Initiative from Pristina, Kosovo, which serve as intermediary organizations for their project.
Project background: Young people, particularly girls and those who menstruate, face social stigma, insufficient education, and limited access to affordable menstrual products. In North Macedonia, the Menstrual Justice study (2021) revealed that 64% of students had never received education on menstruation, while over 53% reported feeling “unclean” during their period. Nearly 30% could not afford basic products, and more than 40% admitted hiding them out of shame. Similar challenges are present in Kosovo, where activists have protested in front of the government, demanding the removal of VAT on menstrual products. In Albania, a 2024 report highlighted that girls frequently miss school due to stigma and a lack of menstrual hygiene resources. Although these issues have long persisted, they have only recently entered public discourse, largely driven by youth activism. However, education systems and policies have yet to respond adequately. The main objective of this project is to challenge menstrual stigma and normalize conversations around menstrual health through the active engagement and leadership of young people. It seeks to promote a cultural shift – from shame and silence to openness, dignity, and equity. The aim is to raise awareness about menstrual health and address period stigma in the Western Balkans, where menstruation remains a taboo topic often surrounded by shame, silence, and misinformation.
The project specifically aims to:
- Increase understanding of menstrual health as a human rights and equity issue, particularly among youth in underserved communities;
- Challenge harmful norms, myths, and taboos surrounding menstruation in both public and private spheres;
- Empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to advocate for menstrual justice;
- Support advocacy and social media engagement as tools to influence public opinion and encourage institutional change;
- Strengthen sustainable, youth-led initiatives through capacity-building, peer education, and community dialogue.
Youth Dialogues for Menstrual Justice in Krushevo and Tetovo
Young people in Krushevo and Tetovo came together to openly discuss menstrual health, period poverty, and the stigma that continues to affect girls and those who menstruate, especially in smaller and underserved communities.
Through Youth Dialogues for Menstrual Justice, participants shared personal experiences and worked collaboratively to develop concrete recommendations addressed to institutions, including governments, municipalities, schools, and health services.
The key recommendations include:
🩸 ensuring free or affordable menstrual products in schools and public institutions
🩸 improving school infrastructure, including safe and hygienic toilets for menstrual management
🩸 strengthening menstrual health education through comprehensive curricula and teacher training
🩸 increasing access to accurate information and support from healthcare professionals
🩸 promoting community-based actions to break stigma and harmful taboos
These dialogues highlight the importance of youth participation in shaping more inclusive policies and creating lasting change in menstrual health and justice across local communities.
CAMPAIGN: The visuals presented here are part of a youth-led social media campaign developed within the project. Each visual highlights key demands and messages emerging from the dialogues — ranging from free menstrual products and dignified sanitation to community solidarity, education, and investment in menstrual health as a human rights and social justice issue. The campaign aims to raise awareness of period poverty, menstrual stigma, and unequal access to menstrual health resources.
CDF / RYDE
The Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe Project is implementing by the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF), Belgrade (as project coordinator) and partner organizations: Academy of European Integration and Negotiations from Tirana (AIEN); Kosovo Stability Initiative from Pristina (IKS); Association Network of Progressive Initiatives from Sarajevo (NPI); NGO Info Center from Skopje (NGO IC); Regional Academy for Democratic Development from Novi Sad (ADD); Youth Act Center from Tirana (YA). The project is funded by the European Union.
