Contact Details

Rm. N-411, House of Representatives, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
+63 2 931 5497, +63 2 931 5001 local 7370

Church's Anti-RH Campaign is Violence Against Women

Press Statements

 

  •  CHURCH’S ANTI RH CAMPAIGN
  • IS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

         

           Unremitting and yearly pregnancies are serious cases of violence against women who are denied access to family planning, including legal, medically-safe and effective contraception.

           The principal culprits are: (1) the Catholic Church hierarchy which continues to oppose the enactment of the reproductive health bill and propagates misinformation on modern family planning methods; (2) the government for procrastinating on the passage of the long-delayed RH measure; and (3) husbands and men who impose themselves on their wives and partners in the absence of any viable family planning method.

           This form of violence against women constitutes physical, psychological and financial violence which are punishable under Republic Act No. 9262 or the “Anti Violence Against Women and Their Children Act”. 

           It is physical violence because unremitting pregnancies pose high risks to women and constitute a major cause of maternal death and illness. The National Demographic and Health Survey reveals that 11 women die daily from maternal causes.

           It is psychological violence because women who are driven to abortion because they cannot afford another child suffer grave psychological trauma. According to the UP Population Institute an average of 500,000 abortions are performed annually in the country.

           It is likewise financial violence because unremitting pregnancies prevent women from finishing their education and securing remunerative work for which reason they are condemned to financial subjugation.