Press Release
April 8, 2016
CHR Probes Violations of RH Law
More than three years after the enactment of the Reproductive Health Bill into law, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is conducting a national inquiry on possible violations of the law, which continues to meet challenges in many parts of the country.
Access to reproductive health services and a full range of family planning methods, as well as the existence of local policies contradicting the general principles of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RPRH Law) and international conventions are just some of the issues and concerns being tackled in the ongoing probe by the CHR.
The commission launched the inquiry amid reports of some local government units passing ordinances and other policies that impact upon women’s access to reproductive health services. One such case is Sorsogon City, where the mayor signed a pro-life Executive Order which resulted to the withdrawal of contraceptives from health centers. This defeats the intention of the RPRH Law to provide a wide-range of safe and affordable family planning methods to Filipinos.
Women’s access to contraceptives is also being challenged by some groups before the courts. Currently, a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court is in effect prohibiting the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) from granting registration to all pending application for registration or recertification of contraceptives, as well as the distribution, dispensing and promotion of a subdermal hormonal contraceptive implant brand.
“It is insufficient for congress to enact legislation to advance Women’s Rights such as the Magna Carta for Women and the Reproductive Health Law if government will not fund them and ensure implementation at all levels,” said CHR Chair Jose Luis Martin Gascon. “Women’s issues are urgent concerns of the nation. If the status of women does not progress, how might we expect our country to progress further.”
The CHR is also looking into how the requirement of spousal and parental consents in
some provisions of the RPRH Law is affecting the access of women and young people to reproductive health services, which is a universally-recognized human right.
The RPRH Law requires women to obtain the consent of their spouse before they can avail of family planning services. The law also requires parental consent for those under the age of 18 availing of contraceptives from health centers.
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which the Philippines is a party, mandates all States to ensure the protection and fulfilment of sexual and reproductive rights of their citizens, in line with human rights obligations.
Gascon said findings from the consultations will feed into the Philippines’ report to the United Nations committee on CEDAW in July this year.
The CHR has completed the fifteen (15) Regional Consultations in all of its Regional offices, hearing sectoral representatives and marginalized groups on their concerns related to the implementation of the RPRH Law and also the Magna Carta for Women. These groups include persons with disabilities, LGBTQI (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queer and intersex), and indigenous peoples.
Last April 6-7, the fact finding for National Capital Region was conducted in Manila and Marikina City with the Public Hearing held on April 8 at the Bulwagang Ka Pepe, Commission on Human Rights and presided by Commissioners Karen Gomez-Dumpit and Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana. Other fact-finding missions and public hearings that will focus on reproductive rights violations are scheduled as follows:
Legaspi City April 6 – 8
Zamboanga City April 12 – 14
Tacloban City April 23 – 25
Cagayan de Oro City April 27 – 29
The CHR aims to wrap up the consultations and public hearing by the end of April.
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For queries, please contact:
Atty. Twyla Rubin
Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights Center
Commission on Human Rights
Tel. No.: 0917.587.4660
Email Address: gewhrc.chr@gmail.com