London, UK – May 30, 2026: On the occasion of International Menstrual Hygiene Day, the 5th International Conference on Paid Period Leave (An Initiative By Ranjeeta Priyadarshini) was held at the House of Lords in the UK Parliament. Organized by Global South Corridor in collaboration with the Vishv Umiya Foundation (VUF), ECOF Enterprises, and MHM-KIT, the conference brought together delegates and supporters from the United Kingdom, India, Ghana, Nigeria, China, France, Spain, Kenya, and several other countries to discuss advancing menstrual dignity and workplace equality across the world.
Global Leaders Support the Paid Period Leave Movement
The conference witnessed strong endorsements for the campaign. Lord Rami Ranger shared personal reflections on his mother’s struggles and resilience, emphasizing the importance of recognizing women’s contributions in families and workplaces. He pledged his support to the Paid Period Leave movement led by Ms. Ranjeeta Priyadarshini.
Marion Walker, Senior Philanthropy Manager at UNICEF UK, assured Ms. Priyadarshini of UNICEF’s support in advancing the movement. Councillor Sumeet Jalan announced his commitment to implementing Paid Period Leave within his council area and highlighted the importance of educating boys and men to reduce menstrual stigma. Councillor Archan Raval also expressed his intention to adopt the policy within his company.
Paid Period Leave Recognized as a Workplace Equality Issue
Chenxing Liu, UK Director of AWDPI, described Paid Period Leave as a workplace equality issue rather than special treatment. He emphasized the need for gender-responsive approaches in modern workplaces and within emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Mceva Temofe, President of African Economic Global Convergence, praised Ranjeeta Priyadarshini’s leadership in creating a global menstrual dignity movement. He cited Nairobi’s menstrual leave policy as a successful example of advocacy supported by African nations, including Nigeria and Kenya.
International Launch of the Paid Period Leave Song
The conference also marked the international launch of the Paid Period Leave Song, composed by Rui Dai, Chairperson of the International Artificial Intelligence Association. The launch symbolized the growing international recognition of the movement and its message of workplace inclusion and dignity.
Ranjeeta Priyadarshini’s Impact Across India and Beyond
Delegates celebrated Ms. Priyadarshini’s achievements in India, where her continued advocacy has contributed to the implementation of Paid Period Leave initiatives in Odisha, Karnataka, and Bihar. Her efforts have influenced policy discussions and encouraged employers to embrace workplace balance and gender-sensitive reforms.
To date, she has organized four international conferences dedicated to the cause—two in India, one in Thailand, and one in New York. These events have helped bring global attention to menstrual dignity and inspired organizations worldwide to consider supportive policies for women.
Supporters and Closing Remarks
The event received support from Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Pattnayak, Sweta Mohanty, Ranjan Ku Dash, and Pradeep Nayak. During the closing session, Partha Sarathi Panda, Executive Director of Global South Corridor, delivered the vote of thanks and expressed appreciation to all speakers, delegates, partner organizations, and participants for their contributions.
Commitment to Menstrual Dignity and Workplace Equality
As the conference concluded, participants reaffirmed their commitment to promoting menstrual dignity and workplace equality worldwide. Organizers expressed confidence that the partnerships and collaborations formed during the event would contribute to meaningful policy reforms and inspire broader social and financial support for the Paid Period Leave movement in the years ahead.