Jakarta, Nov. 1 -- Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi said the ministry is committed to ensuring that gender justice and policies' impact on women's basic needs, including menstrual hygiene products, are considered in cross-sector policymaking.

"Menstruation is a natural biological process that is part of women's reproductive cycle, experienced routinely and impossible to avoid," Fauzi said here on Sunday.

She said support from many parties is therefore needed so people can access safe, decent, and affordable menstrual sanitation products, especially those from vulnerable and lower socio-economic groups.

According to Fauzi, sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene products are women's basic needs and an import...