Pinsan | About Us
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About Us

The Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (PINSAN) is committed to work towards achieving full realization of women and girls’ human rights – including their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

If women and girls cannot control their own bodies, sexualities, and fertility including their right to access safe abortion services and information – they cannot exercise other civil, political, economic, social or cultural rights.

We object to the absolute criminal ban on abortion in the Philippines and recognize that this violates women’s fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, non-discrimination, privacy, and freedom from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

We are concerned that the country’s restrictive law has not prevented abortion and only made it extremely unsafe, leading directly to the preventable deaths of thousands of women each year.

We are aware of and condemn the abusive practices and discrimination committed against women seeking post-abortion care. We believe that every woman has the right to humane, compassionate, non-judgemental, and qualitative post-abortion care.

We believe that these abuses, complications, and deaths could be prevented. The Philippine Government needs to act to ensure that the reproductive health policies, services and programs explicitly include access to safe abortion services and information.

Fast Facts

FACT:

Philippines is one of 6 countries in the world where abortion is totally prohibited i.e. the law do not include any exceptions, including to save the life of the pregnant woman or to protect her health.

FACT:

More than 1000 women die each year due to unsafe abortions.

FACT:

Filipino women with life threatening pregnancies have no choice but to risk their lives, either through unsafe abortion or through continuation of high-risk pregnancies.

FACT:

In 2012 more than 100000 women were hospitalized, suffering from severe and often chronic complications due to unsafe abortions.

FACT:

Poor women, rural women and young women are particularly likely to experience unintended pregnancy and to seek abortion under unsafe conditions.

FACT:

Because of the risks of unsafe abortion in unsanitary conditions and with out-dated techniques, many women need post abortion care, but they face barriers in obtaining such care, including the stigma around abortion and the high cost of medical care.

FACT:

Women who undergo abortion for any reason may be punished with prison for two to six years.

FACT:

Physicians and midwives who perform abortions in the Philippines with the consent of a pregnant woman may face up to six years in prison.

What We Do

PREVENT UNSAFE ABORTIONS

Actively advocate for prevention of unsafe abortions in the Philippines.

ENSURE WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Advocate to ensure the realization of women’s right to post-abortion care under existing laws and policies.

REVIEW CURRENT POLICIES

Review current legal and policy restrictions on abortion.

END ABORTION STIGMA

Communicate to the public and policy makers to end stigma and misinformation relating to abortion.

DECRIMINALIZE ABORTION

Work towards the decriminalization of abortion.

ACCURATE INFORMATION

Provide accurate and scientifically sound information on access to safe abortion to Filipino women and young people.