Assignment 5.1 Gender Equality and Reproductive Health Care in the Philippines
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The document discusses the controversial Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RH Bill) in the Philippines, highlighting the issues of high maternal mortality rates, poverty, and a relatively high fertility rate. It details the opposition from the Catholic Church and the lengthy debates surrounding the bill, ultimately leading to its constitutional approval by the Supreme Court in 2014. The RH Bill aims to empower Filipino women by providing access to reproductive health care and family planning resources.
Assignment 5.1 Gender Equality and Reproductive Health Care in the Philippines
- 1. The Fight for the RH Bill Gender Equality & Reproductive Health Care, Philippines Justine Tajonera Assignment #5.1 Women, Education, and Social Change How To Change The World, Wesleyan University via Coursera.org August 3, 2014
- 2. Never has an issue so sharply divided our country VS#
- 3. First, a review of facts (1) These are the facts: •  The Philippines has not met and is not on track to meet its MDG (Millennium Development Goals) for maternal mortality rate. The main causes of mortality rate is childbirth-related. •  The Philippines has a relatively high fertility rate compared to Asian neighbors, Indonesia and Thailand. Even compared to Brazil, which is also a Catholic country. Brazil’s 2010 fertility rate was 1.81. Source:(Unicef.org( Source:(World(Bank(
- 4. First, a review of facts (2) •  Poverty is linked to bigger families. •  In the Philippines, the poverty rate is 25.2% (source: World Bank), that’s more than a quarter of the population. That’s high compared to Asian neighbors Indonesia (8.5%) and Vietnam (13.5%).
- 5. The RH Bill •  The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354) or the RH Bill of 2012 was introduced to guarantee universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care. •  Passage of this bill was controversial and highly divisive across academia, religious institutions and government. •  Here’s the full text: http:// www.gov.ph/2012/12/21/ republic-act-no-10354/
- 6. PH Catholic Church biggest critic of RH Bill •  80% of Filipinos are Roman Catholic (source: census.gov.ph) •  The Catholic Church has been one of the sharpest critics of the RH (Reproductive Health) Bill. •  The Catholic Bishops’ Association of the Philippines required priests to rally people against the RH bill in their sermons. •  After the law was passed in December 2012, 14 petitions to the Supreme Court (made by mostly Catholic groups) blocked its implementation. Source(of(image:(UCAnews.com(
- 7. After fifteen years, the RH Bill will finally be implemented •  Last April 8, 2014, the Supreme Court declared the RH Bill constitutional but voted to strike down 8 provisions partially or in full. •  This bill underwent fifteen years’ worth of debates, studies and consultations. The(RH(law(is(declared(cons>tu>onal(by(the(Supreme(Court.(Photo(by(Franz(Lopez/Rappler(
- 8. What this means: Empowered women making choices •  Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago: “In short, the bill merely wants to empower a Filipino woman from the poorest economic class to march to the nearest facility operated by the Department of Health or the local government unit, to demand information on a family planning product or supply of her choice. The bill, at the simplest level, wants to give an indigent married woman the freedom of informed choice concerning her reproductive rights.” •  I could not have said it any better. •  Today, this law empowers our Filipino women to make choices about their family and their health. Government structures are now in place to meet their demands. CNN.com:(Supporters(of(the(RH(Bill( celebrate,(as(lawmakers(pass(the( landmark(birth(control(legisla>on(on( December(17,(2012.(hOp:// edi>on.cnn.com/2012/12/29/opinion/ philippinesQreproduc>veQhealthQbillQ san>ago/(