Reproductive health advocates from both houses of Congress called on the government to honor its commitments to three United Nations declarations by ensuring that the issue of RH is adequately addressed in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
By: Kahlil Ibrahim, InterAksyon.com
June 3, 2015 9:28 AM
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines — Reproductive health advocates from both houses of Congress called on the government to honor its commitments to three United Nations declarations by ensuring that the issue of RH is adequately addressed in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, in a statement, called RH is an essential component of the universal right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health as enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Aside from this, the lawmakers noted that the International Conference on Population and Development has said the right to reproductive health includes access to health care and information, and autonomy in sexual and reproductive decision-making.
The Philippines’ commitment to these international agreements has been translated to policies that respect, protect and fulfill women’s reproductive health and rights as codified in the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710) and the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RA 10354).
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has also enacted the Reproductive Health Care Act of 2012 for Muslim Mindanao, which recognizes the universal human right to reproductive health. The regional law guarantees women’s and couples’ access to information and services on maternal health and family planning — strategies that will complement the goals of reducing maternal deaths and enabling women and couples to decide freely and responsibly on matters pertaining to their reproductive goals.
“We hope that the gains from this improvement in the policy environment will be sustained in the envisioned Bangsamoro region that will replace the ARMM as it promises to improve governance and delivery of basic social services,” Galo Glino, PLCPD public information officer, said.
Glino explained that “while the bill already contains provisions recognizing women’s right to health (Sec. 10, Art. VIII) and mandating the Bangsamoro regional government to deliver responsive health programs (Sec. 8, Art. VIII), it will greatly benefit the Bangsamoro people if the bill will include the recognition of the basic human right to reproductive health.”
“The PLCPD fervently hopes that members of Congress will consider this proposal. We believe that including this in the bill will give us assurance that the Bangsamoro regional government will stay committed to respect, protect and fulfill the right to reproductive health,” he added.
Founded in 1989, the current PLCPD board of trustees includes Senators Pia Cayetano and Juan Edgardo Angara, Representatives Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Teddy Baguilat, Luzviminda Ilagan, Kaka Bag-ao, Carlos Padilla and Kimi Cojuangco, among others