10 Dec PINSAN calls to Decriminalize Induced Abortion as Priority Legislation
The Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network joins the worldwide celebration of Human Rights Day this December 10th, and stands in solidarity with institutions and individuals alike that demand the recognition and protection of rights for all.
The violation of the rights of the FIlipino people come in a variety of ways. From the suppression of our right to assembly and expression, to the deprivation of access to affordable, decent public housing and adequate healthcare, the fight for human rights in the Philippines is a fight for our ability to live and thrive.
Particularly for PINSAN, we condemn the draconian penalization of induced abortion in the country. Not only does this put women and girls at risk and punishes them for exercising their right to healthcare, it unjustly penalizes medical practitioners who provide safe procedures to those in need.
The restriction of induced abortion in the Phiippines is a clear violation of our right to healthcare, and PINSAN is calling for an end to this punitive law.
PINSAN recognizes the triumphs of lawmakers who pursue the passing of progressive bills. PINSAN celebrates the 18 senators who support the SOGIE Equality Bill[1], which is likely to be passed soon. Similarly, PINSAN would like to commend the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child[2] and the Human Rights Committee[3] for supporting the decriminalization of abortion in their latest reports.
PINSAN also commends the Commission on Human Rights for including the decriminalization of abortion in their 19th Priority Legislative Agenda[a][b].[4] With progressive legislation getting more support, now is the time to advance the campaign for access to safe abortion for women and girls in the Philippines without fear of arbitrary punishment, as continually denying them of this right gravely violates their fundamental rights as people and citizens.
This Human Rights Day, PINSAN joins the voices of women, girls, and allies all over the world in the call for human rights for all. Women and girls in the country should not be left vulnerable, and in a country that prides itself in its democracy, it is a great disservice to women and girls that their rights remain undermined.
PINSAN urges everyone to strengthen the call of inclusive rights! Decriminalize abortion now! Healthcare rights for everyone now!
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You can check these resources on the Decriminalization of Abortion:
1) Read the full text of the Decriminalization of Induced Abortion Bill to Save Lives of Women, Girls and Persons with Diverse Gender Identities drafted by Atty. Clara Rita Padilla for the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network #SaveWomensLives https://decriminalizeabortion.ph/…/read-the-full-text…/
The explanatory note is akin to a sexuality education, gender, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive rights, SOGIE, freedom of religion/belief, right to privacy, human rights module;
2) Rappler Opinion by Clara Rita Padilla: A Filipino woman or girl is raped every 75 minutes. About one in every 8 Filipino women who induce abortion are rape survivors. “Why We Need To Decriminalize Abortion” https://www.rappler.com/…/opinion-why-we-need…/
3) “Reasons Why We Need to Decriminalize Abortion” by Atty. Clara Rita A. Padilla, Fellow at the International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. [15,000 words] https://www.law.utoronto.ca/…/philippines_2020_reasons…
4) “Here’s what you should know about the right to safe abortion” by Clara Rita Padilla, Philippine Star Life, May 26, 2022, https://philstarlife.com/…/774136-what-you-should-know…
5) “New WHO abortion guideline makes clear: Quality abortion care must be accessible” by Jihan Jacob, Opinion, Rappler, March 2022, https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-new-who-guideline-quality-abortion-care-accessible/
6) Be counted as a supporter of Decriminalization of Induced Abortion and sign the petition at http://change.org/decriminalizeabortionph. The sign-on petition now has over 30,000 signatories.
Feel free to like the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (PINSAN) FB page at www.facebook.com/pinsanorg and email us at pinsan.network@gmail.com.