Scotland has put into force a law making women's sanitary products available for free to those who need them, but cannot afford them.

The law went into effect on Monday obliging local governments and educational institutions to provide free products to address so-called "period poverty."

Scotland has invested more than 32 million dollars since 2017 to make such products available at public facilities for free.

The Scottish government says the law is the world's first to ensure the right to free period products. It says this is now more important than ever, as inflation pushes up the costs of daily necessities.

Other governments around the world are also starting to address the issue of period poverty.

Last year, New Zealand announced that sanitary products will be provided for free at all schools, while France said this will be done at universities.