Reproductive health on hold in the Philippines

摘要

Filipinos took the polls this week to elect senators to make up the 16th Congress of the Philippines. The protection of women's sexual and reproductive rights was a divisive issue in the run-up to the elections. Ahead of polling day, different groups publicly endorsed candidates who voted for or against the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RHA), signed by President Bebigno S Aquino last December. The RHA was the end of a debate, lasting more than 10 years, covering issues such as the country's increasing maternal mortality rate (MMR), unwanted pregnancies, and the poor quality of maternal health care. However, the passage of the RHA, which orders local government units to implement standardised reproductive health-care services, drew several petitions from Filipino Catholic groups. Their opposition has led to the Supreme Court's issue of a status quo ante order that temporarily halts the government from implementing the Act. The Court will hear arguments on June 18.