[Statement] of the UP Center for Women’s Studies and the UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights on the Status Quo Ante Order of the Supreme Court on the RH Law

Statement of the UP Center for Women’s Studies and the UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights on the Status Quo Ante Order of the Supreme Court on the RH Law March 19, 2013 The UPCWS and UPIHR wish to express their extreme disappointment with the status quo ante order issued today by the Supreme…

Human Rights Online Philippines

March 22, 2013

2–3 minutes

Human Rights, Law, Maternal death, Philippine government, philippines, Reproductive health, Status Quo Ante Order, Supreme Court, Women’s studies

Statement of the UP Center for Women’s Studies and the UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights on the Status Quo Ante Order of the Supreme Court on the RH Law

March 19, 2013

The UPCWS and UPIHR wish to express their extreme disappointment with the status quo ante order issued today by the Supreme Court on the RH Law. This is tanamount to a TRO couched in terms that may only confuse and therefore delay the anger of those who support the law.

This is particularly insulting that it comes during women’s month.

We are unsurprised that this law is yet to go through yet another barrier. However we are concerned that yet another delay will add to the death count of women dying in the act of giving life. Based on the Philippine government‘s family health data, 14 maternal deaths a day occur because of the lack of basic reproductive health services. This is 1,680 women who will die in the 120 days that the order is effective.

Through the course of the crafting of the bills, the ammendment period and even in the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations, the views of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy have been taken into consideration. Real changes have been made. Yet at every step, despite these attempts to meet half way, the Church refuses to endorse the outcomes. In short it has negotiated repeatedly in bad faith. This latest step is just another indication of its refusal to heed the views of a majority of our people. It is sad that the Supreme Court should be instrumental in revoking human rights already claimed by our people under the RH law.

There are times when legal processes and exhaustive measures no longer serve the purposes of democracy and social cohesion. Times when the hard institutional power of government and social entities must yield to the urgent needs of those most in need of succor. We were hoping the Surpreme Court would have the wisdom to see that this is one of those instances.

We are not discouraged. The social movement that has coalesced to save women shall not stop.

We encourage all to begin again, the actions that made the executive and legislature answerable. So that the Supreme may made accoutable, too.

Elizabeth Aguiling Pangalanagan, LLM
Director UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights

Sylvia Estrada Claudio MD, PhD
Director
UP Center Women’s Studies

Contact Details: UPCWS- 920-6880/920-6950 or 0920-9089187

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