Statement in response to news a girl wasn't allowed to access the toilet during her period

This statement is in response to news that a girl was forced to sit in blood-soaked clothes because she wasn't allowed to go to the toilet during lesson time even though she had just started her period.

Sarah Carson, Global Campaigns Manager at Plan International UK, said: "It’s appalling that a girl was forced to sit in blood-soaked clothes because her teacher wouldn’t let her go to the toilet during lesson time. 

"As a girls’ rights charity we know that this is a common experience for many girls in the UK. A recent survey we did found that nearly a third (30 per cent) of girls had leaked in class because they weren’t allowed to go to the toilet during lesson time. 

"The fear and anxiety over leaking in class has serious consequences, with 16 per cent of girls missing school because they were worried about having their period and not being allowed to go to the toilet during classes.

Ms Carson added, "With young people’s wellbeing, their education and their success at school at stake, we believe things have to change."