Annual Virtual Conference on MHM in Schools

Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health has a long-standing partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) focused on promoting the MHM in Schools global agenda. A key component of this partnership has been co-hosting since 2012 the Annual Virtual Conference on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in Schools.  This virtual conference, provides an opportunity for attendees around the world to share the latest research, programming and policy on MHM happening around the world. The 2017 virtual conference brought together over 1,000 online participants from 60 countries. Every year, Mailman students are engaged in supporting the conference proceedings, including supporting logistics, preparations and documentation of the event.

In addition to the conference, Columbia University has also collaborated with UNICEF and the UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) on the development of publications which seek to examine the current landscape of the MHM schools’ movements, and the intersection of gender, education, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Virtual Conference Reports and Recordings

2016 Virtual Conference Proceedings:

2015 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:

To view all conference reports and recordings from 2012-2017, click here.

Publications

Sommer, M., Figueroa, C., Kwauk, C. Jones, M. Fyles, N. (2017). Attention to menstrual hygiene management in schools: An analysis of education policy documents in low- and middle-income countries. International Journal of Educational Development. 57:73-72.  

Sommer, M., Sahin, M. (2013). Overcoming the taboo: advancing the global agenda for menstrual hygiene management for schoolgirls. American Journal of Public Health. 103, no. 9 (September 1, 2013): pp. 1556-1559.