RH budget cut violates rights – AI

MANILA, Philippines - The removal of P1 billion from this year’s budget for contraceptives is a human rights violation through an act of omission, Amnesty International (AI) said yesterday.

AI Philippines chair Ritz Lee Santos called for action from the government, saying the budget cut is regressive and adversely affects the proper implementation of the Reproductive Health Law.

“Sexual and reproductive health and rights are essential components of the universal right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments,” she said.

“It is counter-productive to what has already been achieved in upholding the rights of women, girls, the LGBT and the youth.”

The enactment of a reproductive health law was a historical milestone in the protection of women’s rights as it strikes down some of the long-standing barriers for women’s access to sexual and reproductive health, AI said.

“Despite the law’s imperfections, it can go a long way to improve the protection of women’s human right to sexual, reproductive and maternal healthcare,” AI said.

Santos is concerned about the irreversible implications the budget cut could bring to an already dire situation on sexual and reproductive health in the country.

“This budget cut is a step backwards,” she said.  

“The action of the Senate budget committee defeats the purpose of a social legislation aimed at improving the situation of its beneficiaries.” 

Santos said the budget slice is not only anti-women but anti-poor. It could be  detrimental to the promotion and protection of human rights, especially of the marginalized, she added.