Reproductive Healthcare Act
-
Councillors,
It's hard to explain to men what women go through and it may be a small product to you, but it means a lot to us. Period poverty is an issue that affects girls in every nation and every city; every person who has a working uterus needs menstrual products every single month.
Emma Granger
Councillor for Montenbourg
AN ACT to reform reproductive healthcare by allowing the disclousore of Union, of the European Health Organization funds to allow free reproductive products in schools, and lower costs on various projects regarding reproductive health.
Sec. 1: Title and Severability
(a) This act shall be known as the Reproductive Healthcare Act.
Sec. 2: Definitions
(a) “Abortion” is defined as the ending of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus.
(b) “Birth Control” or “Contraceptive pill” is defined as a pill, injection, or any other method whose primary purpose is to prevent pregnancy.
(c) “Pad” and “ Sanitary napkins” is defined as an absorbent item worn in the underwear to prevent bleeding from menstruation or other bodily functions.
Sec. 3: Feminine and Male Hygiene and Reproductive Care Products
(a) There shall be provided to the Member States an opportunity to receive a grant from the European Health Organization of up to five hundred seventy million euros (570 000 000€), provided the member state satisfy the following criteria:
(1) The following products may not attract any extra taxation over the standard VAT rate or have tax differences between feminine and male hygiene products:
(A) Tampons;
(B) Menstrual pads;
(C) Contraceptive pills;
(D) Sanitary napkins; and
(E) Any products which are sold with the intention of being used for male or feminine hygiene.
(F)Male reproductive care products including Condoms or Contraceptive Care including surgery
(2) The qualifying Member States must operate a program in all institutions of public education which receive any funds from the European Health Organisation. This program must allow for all enrolled students who menstruate access to any and all products listed in Section 3(a)(1) free of charge at point of acquisition for personal use.
-
ooc consider this part of debate now
I understand the intent behind this is good and support funding for reproductive health products however this does unfortunately clash with our system. Some countries like the Duchies have a flat tax on all sales of 10% regardless of the type of goods or services. We charge this on all products whether its food , luxury goods a car or indeed health products or medicine. We do this to keep administration simple for businesses so they don't have to waste money working out what is taxed and what isn't , if we had to drop taxes on these products then it would wreck the simplicity and ease of our taxation system.If this was changed we could support this act.James Mizrachi-Roscoe, Councillour for United Duchies
-
(OOC: if that whole comment was Out of Character
For when the debate opens then you should not put the name and country of your councillor at the end) -
Debate on this will continue until 28 April 2021 at 12h00 GMT.
Charles Michel
Council Speaker and Councilor for Fremet
((OOC: Please keep ooc comments to an absolute minimum in the council chambers. Neither ooc comment was necessary in this thread.))
-
This is a very good bill, but confuses the EMU currency, which just involves the Treaty of Finisterre's signatory nations and also tries to regulate some taxes on these listed products. I understand women's problems and I support them every day, but the whole act tries to limit something many European Union states will not be willing to give up, especially something like taxes. If Montenbourg wants to eliminate these taxes, they can do it, but I think it is much better not to drag the whole of the European Union with them. That said, I will be voting against this act.
Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain -
I'm proposing the following Amendments to address my concerns with the act:
(This would fix procedural inaccuracies and make the legislation compatible with EU Law.)
Amendment I:Sec. 3: Feminine Hygiene Products
(a) There shall be provided to the Member States an opportunity to receive a grant
of EHO money, up to five hundred seventy million EMUs ($570,000,000) per qualifying Member Statesfrom the European Health Organization of up to five hundred seventy million euros (570 000 000€), providedsuch qualifyingthe member state satisfy the following criteria:
(Reworded for clarity.)
Amendment II:(2)
TheQualifying Member States must operate a program inallinstitutions of public education which receive any funds from theEHOEuropean Health Organisation. This program must allow for all enrolled studentsof such institutionswhichwho menstruate access to any and all products listed in Section 3(a)(1) free of charge at point of acquisition ((omitted the period here)) for personal use.
With the new proposed amendments, I'm extending debate until 1 May 2021 at 12h00 GMT.
Charles Michel
Council Speaker and Councilor for Fremet -
Inimicus supports this Act with Speaker Michel's amendments included.
Nicholas Benfield
-
Montenbourg supports this Act with Speaker Michel's amendments included.
Emma Granger
Councillor for Montenbourg -
I hereby proppose an amendment to Sec. 3 in the criteria section:
(1) The following products
are to be made exempt from any form of tax imposed by the Member States:may not attract any extra taxation over the standard VAT rate or have tax differences between feminine and male hygiene products:I would also suggest we add male hygiene products to any scheme I see no reason why women should get additional products free to the mens products if we can give out femimine hygiene and reproductive healthcare free why should those with male genitalia not be able to get condoms free as well . In a way its highly sexist to give only one gender or sex free products.
As such I present a second ammendment:
Sec. 3: Feminine and Male Hygiene and Reproductive Care Products(A) Tampons;
(B) Menstrual pads;
(C) Contraceptive pills;
(D) Sanitary napkins; and
(E) Any products which are sold with the intention of being used for male or feminine hygiene.
(F)Male reproductive care products including Condoms or Contraceptive Care including surgery
James Mizrachi-Roscoe Councillour for United Duchies
-
Debate has ended. We will now move to voting on the proposed amendments:
Amendment I: (Proposed by Cllr Michel)
Sec. 3: Feminine Hygiene Products
(a) There shall be provided to the Member States an opportunity to receive a grant
of EHO money, up to five hundred seventy million EMUs ($570,000,000) per qualifying Member Statesfrom the European Health Organization of up to five hundred seventy million euros (570 000 000€), providedsuch qualifyingthe member state satisfy the following criteria:
Amendment II: (Proposed by Cllr Michel)
(2)
TheQualifying Member States must operate a program inallinstitutions of public education which receive any funds from theEHOEuropean Health Organisation. This program must allow for all enrolled studentsof such institutionswhichwho menstruate access to any and all products listed in Section 3(a)(1) free of charge at point of acquisition ((omitted the period here)) for personal use.
Amendment III: (Proposed by Cllr Mizrachi-Roscoe)
(1) The following products
are to be made exempt from any form of tax imposed by the Member States:may not attract any extra taxation over the standard VAT rate or have tax differences between feminine and male hygiene products:
Amendment IV: (Proposed by Cllr Mizrachi-Roscoe)
Sec. 3: Feminine and Male Hygiene and Reproductive Care Products
(A) Tampons;
(B) Menstrual pads;
(C) Contraceptive pills;
(D) Sanitary napkins; and
(E) Any products which are sold with the intention of being used for male or feminine hygiene.
(F)Male reproductive care products including Condoms or Contraceptive Care including surgery
Voting starts NOW and ends 5 May 2021 at 12h00 GMT.
I vote FOR Amendments I, II, III, and IV.
Charles Michel
Council Speaker and Councilor for Fremet -
On behalf of United Duchies I vote for ALL ammendments
James Mizrachi-Roscoe, Councillour for United Duchies -
On behalf of Montenbourg I vote for ALL ammendments
Emma Granger
Councillor for Montenbourg -
The Empire of Inimicus votes FOR all Amendments.
Cllr Nicholas Benfield
-
I vote FOR all amendments.
Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain -
The Republic of Istkalen, acting on the behalf of the Istkalener people, votes FOR all amendments.
Iras Tilkanas
Interim Councillor for the Republic of Istkalen -
On behalf of the Republic of Nofoaga, I vote FOR all amendements.
Mrs. Paul-Gabrielle Muzhare
EU councilor for the Republic of Nofoaga -
On Behalf of the Commonwealth of Leagio, I vote FOR all Amendments.
Francis Plessis
EU Councilor for Leagio -
On behalf of the Democratic Republic of Czech Slavia, I vote FOR all amendments.
Václav Kohout
Councillor for Czech Slavia -
Voting on amendments has ENDED.
With 9 votes FOR, 0 votes AGAINST, and no Abstentions, Amendment I PASSES.
With 9 votes FOR, 0 votes AGAINST, and no Abstentions, Amendment II PASSES.
With 9 votes FOR, 0 votes AGAINST, and no Abstentions, Amendment III PASSES.
With 9 votes FOR, 0 votes AGAINST, and no Abstentions, Amendment IV PASSES.
The legislation has been altered to reflect the Amendments passed.
Final voting will begin NOW and end 14 May 2021 at 12h00 GMT.
On behalf of the Republic of Fremet, I vote FOR the Reproductive Healthcare Act as amended.
Charles Michel
Council Speaker and Councilor for Fremet -
On behalf of the Kingdom of Spain, I vote AGAINST this act.
Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain
The Kingdom of Spain
